Postal Science and Technology
In 2003 China Post invested more than RMB 2 billion yuan in technology innovation. The State Post Bureau issued 105 new R&D projects, among which 40 were soft science projects, 42 were standards and quality inspection projects and 23 were technological development projects. 84 projects (including projects extended from the previous year) were completed, including15 soft science projects and 29 technological R&D projects, and 40 standards were issued.
China Post has 17 independent research institutes, with 1,859 staff undertaking 297 research projects, including 3 projects at national level and 177 at provincial and ministerial levels. The non-independent research institutes of China Post are staffed with 3,130 employees in charge of 326 research projects.
China Post altogether registered 388 research results, with 1 of them up to international standards, 30 reaching domestic advanced standards and 173 among the best in China. In 2003 the postal sector won 25 awards, released 386 scientific papers and published 2 types of scientific works. It registered another 5 patents, with the total number of patents rising to 9.
In 2003, the Postal Science and Technology Committee established a work team for standardization. Breakthroughs were made in soft science researches, especially in post reform, development strategies, logistics and operation and management with efforts on the practicality and operability of research results. The research projects targeted at business demands to promote the informationization of postal industry. 29 technological projects were completed in the year. The E-commerce of Postal Industry and Demonstration of Integrated Application of Modern Logistics listed among the 10th five-year technological development projects passed the examination of the Ministry of Science and Technology. Four research results including the E-commerce Logistics Management and Dynamic Control System were listed in the key national scientific and technological achievements to be spread nationally. The YSZ301 High-speed Franking Machine was listed as a 2003 key national new product project.
China Postal Academy
China Postal Academy is a research institute of the State Post Bureau. Its research results in strategic planning, economic policy, business operation, postal route optimization, information consultation and postal technology standards have been widely applied into the postal production practice.
The Academy has kept renovating its institutional mechanism and restructuring internal organization in order to meet market demands. In July 2002, China Post Science & Technology Co., Ltd. was established, which, together with the Academy, provides all-round technological services for the development of China Post.