The Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) announced Tuesday it is to share information resources with a US online company which bridges tough scientific problems and possible solutions.

Yuan Youxin, director of the NSFC international exchange center, said the cooperation between the foundation and InnoCentive Company would help resolve research problems throughout the world.

Yuan said his foundation would encourage Chinese researchers to bid for difficult issues listed by InnoCentive on its website, http://cn.innocentive.com.

According to its official website, InnoCentive is a "community matching top scientists to relevant R&D challenges facing leading companies." It creates an online forum enabling major companies to reward scientific innovation through financial incentives.

Ali Hussein, InnoCentive's vice president in charge of marketing, said his company was willing to strengthen cooperation with China's scientific community.

The first endeavor, involving solutions for bio-chemical research problems, would be arranged by the NSFC and InnoCentive for Chinese college students and other amateur researchers.

Potential participants were welcome to compete, with rewards ranging from US$5,000 to 100,000.

(Xinhua News Agency February 17, 2004)