During the 11th Five Year Plan period, the 973 Program’s
energy focus and financing targets the following topics:
l Basic research on the distribution and safe mining of
deep coal resources and coal-bed methane.
l Basic research on efficient and environmentally sound
usage of coal.
l New theories and methods on more efficient exploitation
and utilization of oil and natural gas.
l Major scientific issues related to China’s large grid system.
l Key scientific programs related to large-scale and
pollution-free production, storage and transmission of
hydrogen fuel.
l Exploration of utility-scale renewable energy and new
energy development.
l Exploration of large-scale nuclear fission and fusion
development.
l Key scientific issues related to energy efficiency improvement.
Both the 863 & 973 programs are funded and managed by
the MOST. At the local level, provincial and municipal
governments are also actively involved in funding R&D. In
the past 10 years local Chinese governments’ S&T appropriation
has steadily increased (Figure 3). In 2006, Shanghai
topped the nation in R&D appropriation, with a total
investment of 9.5 billion yuan ($1.5 billion). This accounted
for 5.2% of Shanghai’s GDP in the same year.