A major non-communist party Wednesday called for more attention to research and development work in enterprises, making them new cradles for the country's scientific and technological innovation drive.

"The history of industrial development in the past century showed that almost all the technologies really useful to the mankind were invented in enterprises," said Han Zhongchao, a member of China's top advisory body, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) now in its annual full session in Beijing.

"However, it is a long-time tradition of the Chinese to rely on research institutes and higher learning institutions as the main forces for sci-tech innovation," noted Han, who delivered a keynote speech at a full meeting of the advisory body Wednesday afternoon on behalf of the Central Committee of the Jiu San Society, one of China's eight non-communist parties.

According to Han, presently the Chinese enterprises are deadly short of the capability to make innovations independently.

"Three quarters of China's patent rights for new inventions have gone to foreign nationals, while the total number of the patent applications filed by China's 10 'most innovative' electronics and IT enterprises in five years equals to that filed by the IBM alone in one single year," said Han.

Presenting a proposal from his party, Han suggested that the government take effective measures to enhance the "innovative capacity" of enterprises, especially the state-owned ones.

"The government should encourage enterprises to establish their own research and development centers, and help them to form alliance in seeking technological innovations," said Han.

He added that the government should also launch special programs to foster more talents for enterprises, as it has done in the universities and research institutes.

"We shall guide more talented personnel to enter the enterprises while helping the enterprises preserve their existing talents," said Han, warning against the brain drain in some state-owned enterprises, which could lead to the "leak of key technologies and commercial secrets".

(Xinhua News Agency March 9, 2005)