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)