The Ministry of Science and Technology is looking at law drafts for protecting intellectual property rights covering biological and information technology.

The ministry is also considering law proposals to protect property rights on large instruments and animals used in experiments related to State-level research programmes, said Li Xueyong, vice-minister of science and technology.

Li made the comments at a conference on scientific systems and intellectual property which opened yesterday in Beijing.

The Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council has been charged with drafting frameworks for the proposed laws, he said.

The concept of protecting intellectual property rights (IPR) on new technology has become a major consideration in scientific research.

Scientific departments which undertake the so-called "863 Programme'' (China's high-tech development plan initiated in March 1986) and other national scientific programmes are required to submit IPR protection strategies before they apply for project implementation, said Li.

As a result, some projects have gained patented technologies. A new technology for growing genetically modified pest-resistant cotton, for example, was granted the "Golden Award of Invention Patent'' by the World Intellectual Property Organization last year.

Li said his ministry preparatory strategies for intellectual property protection will be made in parallel with the development of new scientific projects.

According to the State Intellectual Property Office, patent protection has been strengthened to spur the development of cutting-edge technology in China, and has been linked with 12 key scientific projects launched last year by the Ministry of Science and Technology.

These projects cover information security, computer software, electronic motor vehicles and other programmes.

The State Intellectual Property Office has also launched patent protection programmes in large firms in more than 20 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions and will continue to supervise patent systems in these regions.

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