Five Chinese mainland students were shortlisted for the 5th annual Young Inventors Awards 2004 hosted by Far Eastern Economic Review (FEER) in association with Hewlett-Packard Asia Pacific on Friday, according to sources with the China operation of Dow Jones, to which FEER belongs.

All the five Chinese students are currently pursuing postgraduate studies in the Singapore-based Nanyang Technological University (NYTU). A total of 12 scientific and technological inventions from Singapore, Australia, India and Philippines were selected as finalists out of 87 nominations from Asia-Pacific higher education institutions.

The Chinese finalists include doctorate candidates Yang Huiying and Wang Qijie, both from NYTU Electric and Electronic Department.

Yang invented materials that can be used to produce ultraviolet laser generators at a low cost and Wang found a way to enlarge capacity of optical fiber network without increasing costs.

Another invention was an joint effort of Chinese students Liang Xiaojun, Sun Yi and Zhang Xuming, all from the same department as the above two Chinese. The three students currently studying for master's degree created a diagnosing device that can detect cancer at an early stage by using chip technologies.

The Young Inventors Awards were launched in 2000, aimed at fostering the spirit of invention among students in the Asia-Pacific region by recognizing and supporting outstanding efforts or projects that enhance quality of life in a significant or meaningful way.

The winners of the awards will be announced in Singapore on Jan.25, says a written statement from Dow Jones China.

(Xinhua News Agency January 23, 2005)