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This article will describe the rapid growth of the adhesive and sealant (A&S) industries in the People's Republic of China. After a brief societal background, examples will illustrate research and development aspects, pointing out the need for "green" technology whenever possible. Several significant joint ventures have set the pace for modernization. The article will also provide an overview of what Chinese researchers have contributed to their economical progress and the direction of future growth of China's A&S industries.
Societal Background
During the last decade, after injecting a megadose of market-economy (a magical capitalist's thought]), China was averted miraculously from the brink of economic chaos of the 1970s. Even under a strict state control, the population has increased from approximately 1 billion in 1982 (1) to nearly 1.2 billion in 1994. The real gross domestic product, GDP, made a quantum leap (2) from 7.09/o (GNP) in 1991 to 13.4% in 1993 (Table I). (Table Omitted) The GDP growth from 1980 to 1992 averaged 9.2 per year (four times the U.S. growth for the same period) and rose to approximately 11.7% per year from 1991 to 1995. For 1993, the real GDP per capita was $395 for China, in comparison to $21,665 for the U.S, reflecting a lower cost of labor there. In fact, the average monthly wage in 1993 was $38 for China, compared to $1,919 for the U.S. Furthermore in 1994, exports finally exceeded imports, and China was able to earn a surplus of much-needed foreign dollars. On the minus side, the inflation rate in 1994 had soared to 21.7%, perhaps a growing pain.
Research and Technologies
The miracle growth of the economy is attributed, in part, to the solid support of science and technology. In 1994, the state spent about 0.5% of the GDP for research and development. Nowadays, it is fashionable for most research units to reach out or join in production as a way to speed-up the development and supplement research funding. Thus, it is not uncommon to hear about inventions, "relevancy, "technology transfer, and joint ventures within the research circles. Once regarded as the ivory tower, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), consisting of 123 research institutes, has gradually scaled down its basic research to approximately 20% of the total...