"China will record and evaluate the credibility of the research organs who apply for national scientific funds," the Xinhua News Agency said, citing comments by the technology minister, Xu Guanhua. "Those scientists or research organizations who lose credibility will be warned and made public."

Xinhua said Xu made the comments Tuesday in a meeting of a government advisory panel. It didn't say how the system would work.

China's scientific establishment has been battered this year by a scandals over star scientists who lied about research or their academic backgrounds.

Last month, a dean at one of China's top science universities was dismissed after investigators found he faked research on what state media had hailed as a breakthrough new computer chip.

Two other scientists at top universities have been fired after they were caught lying about their backgrounds.

"Although the number of scientific frauds is still small, its harm on China's scientific progress cannot be underestimated," Xu was quoted as saying.