Recently Ministry of Science and Technology approved 113 national basic research programs (also called 973-program) of 2010. Zhejiang University took the lead in undertaking 5 programs. Jianhua Yan, Shumin Duan, Bogeng Li, Jianrong Tan and Lirong Yang were authorized as Chief Specialist of 973-program.

The 5 programs were related to energy, population and health, materials and synthesis science, including efficient clean use of combustible solid waste held by Prof. Jianhua Yan from Department of Energy Engineering, glial cell’s effect on the central nervous system repair and functional reconstruction held by Prof. Shumin Duan from School of Medicine, preparation and processing applications of high performance thermoplastic elastomer held by Prof. Bogeng Li from Department of Materials Science and Engineering, the key scientific issues on the enlargement and energy consumption reduction of complex air separation equipment held by Prof. Jianrong Tan from Department of Mechanical Engineering and scientific basis of chiral chemicals in bio-manufacture method held by Lirong Yang from Department of Materials Science and Engineering.

It’s said that Zhejiang University shared the first place with Peking University in the amount of the approved programs. It was the first time that five 973-programs of Zhejiang University were approved in one year and the total budget summed up to 140 million. Zhejiang University has taken the lead in undertaking nineteen 973-programs (including the major science research program) by now.