China announces that its largest oceanographic research center in Qingdao is under construction.
As China Daily reported, the Qingdao National Oceanographic Science and Technology Laboratory is expected to grow into a leading oceanographic research institution within 10 years.
The center is a joint programe launched by five universities and scientific research institutions in Qingdao and it is financed by the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Shandong and Qingdao governments.
Qingdao National Oceanographic Science and Technology Laboratory is located in Qingdao Blue Silicon Valley Core Area, and according to Pan Kehou, director of the preparatory office, it will focus on six major research areas, such as marine environmental science and technology, and marine resource exploitation and protection.
The laboratory is planned to be developed in three phases and it will cost 100 million Yuan ($15.67 million).
The first stage including a building complex and a high-performance calculating and simulation platform has been completed and will come into usage shortly.
The next phase will begin in August this year. It is composed of three public technological platforms and four engineering technological research facilities.
The third, and the final stage, commencing at the end of this year, will cover marine biotechnology, a public technical service platform, three engineering technological research centers, a marine and scientific museum, as well as services for operating and academic exchanges and accommodation.
[mappress] Subsea World News Staff , July 31, 2012