China will tolerate experiment failures by its scientists to ease pressure, encourage innovation and cut the chances of fraud, a top official said yesterday.

Worried about being left behind in global technological advances, China has launched a campaign to pour more resources into scientific research to boost "home-grown innovation."

Several high-profile cases of cheating in state-paid research programs have shocked the country in recent years.

Science and Technology Minister Wan Gang blamed the fraud cases partly on mounting pressure to succeed in a "high-risk" area that cannot guarantee 100 percent results.

"If you press every project to succeed, it will inevitably lead to fabrication," Wan said.

"In many cases, the experience from failures in scientific exploration is more precious than that from successes."

Wan cited the Law on Science and Technology Progress that was revised last December to allow scientists to report failures freely without losing face or affecting future funding.

The amended law will take effect in July.

Wan said many lessons had been learnt from fraud cases.

(Shanghai Daily, March 14, 2008)