Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Shi Erwei said Tuesday that in the coming five years the academy will focus on building research networks to combine academic resources of different CAS institutes for strategic scientific projects.

The new networks will be aimed at the research frontiers of information technology, modern agriculture, life sciences, advanced manufacturing and new materials, Shi said in an interview with Xinhua.

Though the CAS will still respect the autonomy of subordinate institutes in deciding their primary research orientations, Shi said, the networks should help enhance the capacity of individual institutes to coordinate and cooperate.

"We are not to copy existing research entities, and we are scheming flexible and virtual networks which might collect strength from sources both inside and outside of the CAS," Shi said.

The networks will organize researchers to work toward special goals, after the completion of which researchers will go back to their home institutes, Shi said. Interim network leaders will set up strategies and implement management for specific research projects.

In addition to the emphasis on networks, Shi said, the CAS will strive to strengthen cooperative ties with universities as well as big companies. The CAS intends to provide research facilities for joint programs.

By 2010, Shi said, the CAS will establish a handful of joint labs or other research organs together with universities and companies.

He also said the CAS is considering stimulating research talent by restructuring existing human resource systems.

"With more and more tough jobs we are faced," Shi said, "the CAS needs more and more science strategists and leading scientists.