As early as in 1955, the Chinese government promulgated the Interim Regulations of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Concerning Awards for Achievements in Sciences to reward major scientific and technological achievements. In 1984, the government established the Awards for Scientific and Technological Progress. In May 1999, China established five categories and grades of awards, including the State Highest Scientific and Technological Awards, State Natural Science Awards and State Awards for Technical Invention. These awards are bestowed once a year, and the president of the state gives out the awards at the Conference of National Scientific and Technological Awards. In 2002 Wang Xuan, inventor of the laser phototypesetting technology, and Huang Kun, solid-state physician, were presented the State Highest Scientific and Technological Awards. Local governments and non-governmental organizations have also established scientific and technological awards. Besides, some enterprises, institutions, mass organizations and individuals both at home and abroad have established regular scientific and technological awards using non-governmental funds or funds raised by themselves. These awards are set up especially for individuals directly engaged in scientific and technological research, therefore they help to fire the scientists with enthusiasm for conducting scientific and technological invention. Currently such awards that have been approved by the relevant state departments include Du Pont prize for scientific and technological innovation, Li Siguang prize for geology, Zhan Tianyou prize for civil engineering, GM (General Motors Corporation) prize for China's scientific and technological achievements, and Baeyer prize for young scientists. China also has an annual China International Science and Technology Cooperation Award that on September 19, 2002 at the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo was conferred on Prof. Kuroda Yoshimasu for his achievements in the fields of lithology and mineralogy. Created in 1994, the China International Science and Technology Cooperation Award has been awarded to 26 people from 12 countries. Prof. Yoshimasu is the third Japanese scientist to receive the honor.
