Statistics show that the total volume of business for technology contracts in Beijing last year reached 22.1 billion yuan (US$2.66 billion), accounting for one-fourth of the total volume for the country. The figure is 10 billion yuan (US$1.21 billion) higher than Shanghai, which ranks second in the country.

The sharp increase in technology trading in intellectual property rights as well as in foreign-funded research and development organizations is a feature emerging in Beijing?s technology market. In addition, Zhongguancun Science Park has become the most active area for technology trading, accounting for over 50 percent of the total volume of business in Beijing. Among them, high-tech fields including electronic information technology, biological engineering, new medicine, unification of optical instruments, machinery and electronics, new materials, environmental protection and comprehensive utilization of resources continue to maintain a leading role in the volume of technology transactions.

According to the administrative office, technology sellers in Beijing?s technology market have exceeded 4,300. The provinces which have bought technologies worth 100 million yuan and over from Beijing have increased from seven in 1994 to 25 in 2002. Zhongguancun Science Park has exported technology worth 6.2 billion yuan (US$748 million) to other regions.

(China.org.cn by Wang Qian, April 24, 2003)