On the basis of the efforts to identify its key fields, priority frontiers and research directions for the knowledge innovation program (KIP) piloted at the Academy, CAS launched 19 major interdisciplinary projects from 1998 to 2001, with a total budget of 170 million yuan (US$ 20 million).

1. Shuguang (Dawning) 2000-II high-performance parallel computer, chief scientist: Li Guojie, project base: CAS Institute of Computing Technology, department in charge: CAS Bureau of Hi-tech Industry Development, duration: 1998--1999

2. High-performance routing switch, chief scientist: Hou Ziqiang, project base: CAS Institute of Acoustics, department in charge: CAS Bureau of Hi-tech Industry Development, duration:1999

3. Micro-satellites for store and forward communication, chief scientist: Jiang Mian Heng, project base: Shanghai Institute of Metallurgy of CAS, department in charge: CAS Bureau of Hi-tech Industry Development, duration: 1999--2001

4. Five-hundred-meter aperture spherical telescope chief scientist: Nan Rendong, project base: Beijing Astronomical Observatory, department in charge: CAS Bureau of Basic Science, duration: 1999--2001

5. Sequence of rice genome and the isolation and application of their important functional genes, chief scientists: Hong Guofan and Xue Yongbiao, project bases: National Gene Research Center and CAS Institute of Developmental Biology, department in charge: CAS Bureau of Life Science and Biotechnology, duration: 1999--2001

6. Human genome and the application of genes causing major diseases, chief scientists: Li Zaiping, Zhao Guoping and Pei Gang, project base: Shanghai Research Center of Bioengineering of CAS, department in charge: CAS Bureau of Life Science and Biotechnology, duration: 1999--2000

7. Research and compilation of The Flora Sinica, The Fauna Sinica, and The Cryptogamic Flora Sinica, chief scientist: Wei Jiangchun, project base: CAS Institute of Zoology, department in charge: CAS Bureau of Life Science and Biotechnology, duration: 1999--2001

8. Proton exchange membrane fuel cells, chief scientist: Jiang Yi, project bases: Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics of CAS and CAS Institute of Electrical Engineering, department in charge: CAS Bureau of Hi-tech Industry Development, duration: 1999--2001

9. A guiding research on innovated approaches to oil and gas exploration, chief scientists: Li Youmin and Yang Changchun, project base: CAS Institute of Geology and Geophysics, department in charge: CAS Bureau of Science and Technology for Resources and the Environment, duration: 1999--2001

10. Carbon nano-tube and other nano-materials, chief scientist: Xie Sishen, project base: CAS Institute of Physics, department in charge: CAS Bureau of Basic Science, duration: 1999--2000

11. Industrialization of industrial robots, chief scientist: Wang Tianran, project base: Shenyang Institute of Automation, department in charge: CAS Bureau of Hi-tech Industry Development, duration: 1999-2001

12. Infrared focal plane materials and array devices, chief scientist: He Li, project base: Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics of CAS, department in charge: CAS Bureau of Hi-tech Industrialization and Development, duration: 1999--2001

13. Desk-top 10TW-level ultra-short ultra-high intense laser facility, chief scientist:Xu Zhizhan, project base: Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics of CAS, department in charge: CAS Bureau of Hi-tech Industrialization and Development, duration: 1999--2001

14. High-performance, high-benefit polypropylene fabrics, chief scientist: Xu Duanfu, project base: Institute of Chemistry of CAS, department in charge: CAS Bureau of Basic Science, duration: 1999--2001

15. Prospects for certain target regions for strategic succeeding regions of gold resources, chief scientist: Shen Yuanchao, project base: Institute of Geology and Geo-physics, department in charge: CAS Bureau of Science and Technology for Resources and the Environment, duration: 1999--2001

16. An analysis of temporal and spatial remote-sensing information of territory and the environment, and pre-research on theory and technology on digital earth, chief scientist: Liu Jiyuan, project base: CAS Institute of Remote-sensing Application, department in charge: CAS Bureau of Science and Technology for Resources and the Environment, duration: 1999--2001

17. Agricultural technology integration and high technology for the development of commercial grain bases with stable output in northeast China, chief scientist: Deng Wei, project base: Changchun Institute of Geography of CAS, department in charge: CAS Bureau of Science and Technology for Resources and the Environment, duration: 1999--2001

18. Climate and environment changes in environmental sensitive zones of China over the past 2000 years and their sustainable development. chief scientist: An Zhisheng, project base: Institute of Earth Environment of CAS, department in charge: CAS Bureau of Science and Technology for Resources and the Environment, duration: 1999--2001

19. Projection electron-beam lithography system with demagnification imaging (PELDI), chief scientist: Gu Wenqi, project base: CAS Institute of Electrical Engineering, department in charge: CAS Bureau of Hi-tech Industry Development, duration: 1999--2001