Awards for bringing research to the market The only award for commercializing research in China, the Scientific Research and Production Innovation Award is widely acclaimed among scientific organizations, said Shi Dinghuan, deputy chairman of China Industry-University-Research Institute Collaboration Association (CIICA).
He made remarks at a press conference for this year's awards ceremony, scheduled for December and organized by the association.
The CIICA was established in Beijing in 2007 to promote closer links between industry, schools and research institutions to boost independent innovation.
It has sponsored 42 innovation pilot zones nationwide and a number of technological creation unions.
Representatives of more than 300 companies, universities and research bodies across the country have joined the association, which is supervised by the Ministry of Science and Technology.
"We began the yearly award in 2009 to honor cooperation between research and production, as well as promote modernization of Chinese industries," Shi noted.
"The award is made up of four parts - innovation, promotion, achievements and outstanding contribution."
In the past two sessions, 402 prizes were awarded - 133 to companies, 56 to universities and 83 for research institutes including Sany Heavy Industry Co Ltd, the Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry and the Beijing Institute of Technology.
In addition, 70 scientific breakthroughs with intellectual property (IP) rights also received the honor, according to organizers.
"IP rights is an important issue that will influence the stability and effectiveness of the collaboration between research and production," said Wang Jianhua, the association's secretary-general.
"We have an IP protection center with scholars and lawyers providing services to our members." Wang told China Daily.
"We also invited a group of industry experts for the award, making sure the entries have no IP disputes."
They have also analyzed existing problems in cooperation between research and production, which have been reported to national leaders.
"The collaboration covers diverse fields such as science and education, so a fair and appropriate IP sharing mechanism is necessary," Wang said.
"The association will dedicate itself to promoting the establishment of such a mechanism and will create more opportunities for universities and companies to gather together to discuss IP issues involved in cooperation," said the secretary-general.
(Source:China Daily)
