Expensive scientific instruments are now available for public
rental throughout China via a new on-line database launched on
Thursday.
The database, operated out of Beijing, boasts a catalogue of
about 14,770 scientific instruments, each costing 400,000 yuan
(53,000 U.S. dollars) or more, said a press release by its sponsor,
the Ministry of Science and Technology.
The instruments are owned by universities, research institutes,
state-owned enterprises and private companies, among others. They
are being advertised online free of charge to publicize their
availability to the public, according to the database
administrator.
The website (www.scilink.cn) provides a brief introduction of an
instrument and its function, its location and the contact of its
provider. The two sides can then negotiate by themselves on the
rental terms.
"The purpose of setting up this database is to save resources
and increase the efficiency of the expensive instruments," said Wan
Gang, scientist-turned minister of science and technology and
former president of Shanghai's Tongji University.
The database features seven regional bases. They include the
Pan-Pearl River Delta, Yangtze River Delta, Bohai Bay rim and the
northeast, northwest, southwest and central China regions.
(Xinhua News Agency November 23, 2007)