The Chinese government
is going to invest 377.7 million yuan (51.04 million U.S. dollars)
in transforming military technologies for civilian use in 2008, 20
percent more than this year's budget.
The Commission of
Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (COSTIND)
released the news Tuesday on its website, www.costind.gov.cn, saying
that the funds will go towards alternative energy, electric
equipment, information technology, heavy equipment, and to
energy-efficient and environment-friendly equipment.
The website says the
fund will be channeled into 17 projects, but does not elaborate on
what specific technologies the commission has an interest in
developing in the coming year. The total fund for the new year is
nearly 20 percent more than the 2007 budget at 315.5 million
yuan.
The COSTIND, which is
responsible for China's defense industry and is mandated to
organize technological development and production of national
defense contractors, leads China's first moon exploration
effort.
However, the launch and
operation of the Chang'e orbiter is funded from a separate and more
costly space program. The first phase of the moon exploration
program cost roughly 1.4 billion yuan, according to the
government.
In recent years, the
COSTIND has encouraged defense manufacturers to develop more dual
technologies and products for a better performance in their balance
sheets.
The so-called "dual-use
technologies" are those developed by the defense sector primarily
for military use, but which may later have a use in hi-tech
civilian-use products.
An official with the
COSTIND said that more dual technologies should be commercialized
in the civilian market, and in so doing creating a defense sector
which is both more competitive and more profitable.
(Xinhua News Agency
December 18, 2007)