“Buckeye” is Awarded China ’s 2007 Top Science Prize

     BEIJING , Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- China granted its State Scientific and Technological Award for 2007 here on Tuesday to petrochemical scientist Min Enze for his outstanding achievement.

    Chinese President Hu Jintao, with other senior leaders, presented the awards to two scientists, 5 million yuan (about 685,000 U.S. dollars) each, at the annual national science-technology award ceremony at the Great Hall of the People.

    Senior petrochemical engineer Min, 84, a native of Sichuan Province in southwest China , is a member of the Sinopec Science and Technology Committee and a senior advisor of the Research Institute of Petroleum Processing (RIPP).

    Min graduated in 1946 from the then National Central University and obtained a doctorate in chemical engineering from Ohio State University in 1950.

    Min became an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in 1980, a research fellow of the Third World Academy of Sciences in 1993 and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering in 1994.

    As an innovator in petrochemical technology, Min laid the foundation of petroleum refining applied catalysis in China , according to the award review committee.

    Min has dedicated his life to the study of petrochemical and chemical engineering. The committee praised his work as an explorer in the research and development of petrochemical green chemistry, as well as his efforts to make better bio fuel.

        Premier Wen Jiabao said in a keynote speech that China had reached a stage in its history where it was more dependent on scientific and technological innovation, and it should strive to enhance its innovative capabilities, which were a national strategic priority.

    Government and Party officials should "make friends with scientists" and "extensively take their advice", Wen said, adding the country should create a sound, respectful environment for scientists and scientific progress.

    The premier called for major technological breakthroughs in key fields such as exploration of energy resources, environmental protection, pollution control, product quality, food safety and safe production.

    The nature of the projects that were awarded show "science and technology is playing an important role in improving people's livelihood, which is the aim and outcome of technological development", according to award office director Chen Chuanhong.

    Chen said most of the winning projects were products of more than a decade of research, highlighting "the contribution made by researchers working on the frontline".

      Tuesday's ceremony was jointly held by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council.

    Since the State Scientific and Technological Award was established in 2000, 12 Chinese scientists have received the five-million-yuan top award, including atmospheric physicist Ye Duzheng, liver and gall specialist Wu Mengchao, hybrid rice developer Yuan Longping, mathematician Wu Wenjun, IT expert Wang Xuan and wheat breeding expert Li Zhensheng.

China 's R&D spending should reach two percent of the GDP in 2010, according to the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-2010).