A press conference for a revised incentive plan for science and technology development takes place in Taiyuan on June 26. [Photo/shanxigov.cn]

Shanxi province will give annual awards of 60 million yuan ($9.09 million) to organizations which contribute to scientific development, in order to encourage technological innovation, according to a press conference for a revised incentive plan for science and technology development, held in Taiyuan on June 26.

The province has collected 72 suggestions from 41 national and provincial companies, universities, and institutions, and modified 17 aspects of the former incentive plan for science and technology development following discussion and debate since 2017. The changes are designed to meet the province's current development needs.

The revised plan featuring innovation-driven transformation and development adds a special innovation award for companies recognized as being major contributors to innovation, and stipulates the economic, social and ecological effects that technical innovation and scientific progress awards should have.

The plan also emphasizes that professionals and talented individuals are primary resources for the province.

The number of people eligible to receive awards has also been enlarged; previously only Chinese citizens were eligible, but foreigners can now also win the awards for significant contributions to Shanxi's development.

The "international science and technology cooperation award" has been changed to the "science and technology cooperation award", with the award now also open to foreign citizens and organizations -- a clear demonstration of the province's opening up.

In addition, the awards themselves are now more generous. For example, the prizes for outstanding contributions to science and technology development have been raised from 800,000 yuan to 3 million yuan each.