1949, November: China founds Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), merging Academia Sinica (Nanjing) and Beiping Academy (Beijing).

The 1960s

1960: Almost all research is focused on the development of nuclear technology.

The 1980s

1986: Foudation of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)

The 1990s

1998, January: Government cuts down redundant and inefficient manpower in the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

1998, August: Chinese Government initiates "Project Yangtze" which provides special funds to leading researchers.

The 2000s

2002, April: Chinese scientists publish the genome sequence of the most widely cultivated rice subspecies (Indica).