The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the driving force for science in China, is aiming to establish 80 national institutes for boosting innovation and achieving sustainable development by 2010. Five institutions set up by CAS will have international standards, according to Biao Jiang, director of CAS, Shanghai, China.

Jiang was at Hyderabad on Monday to participate a symposium on ‘Opportunities for Growth and Development in the Indo-China Pharmaceutical Industry’, held at IICT.

Jiang said, “CAS is striving to build a scientific research base at international level. It intends to foster and bring up advanced science and technology talent and promote the development of China’s high and new technology industries.”

Jiang added that the academy would emphasise on research areas such as molecular biology, cell biology, neuroscience, development biology, genetics, genomics, proteomics, virology, bioinformatics, biosystematics, phytochemistry, biodiversity etc.

CAS has strengths in organofluorine chemistry covering fluroalkylation, fluorination agents, fluorous synthesis, fluorine containing intermediates such as carbenes and radicals, fluorine containing biologically active compound perfluorinated fluids and CFC alternatives.

“By 2010, CAS will become China’s major incubator for the development of high-tech industries and will position itself as a representative of China in the international science community. Science in China is evolving rapidly with high levels of investment and national commitment, Chemistry is becoming a central science of the country,” Jiang added.