A MEDICAL expert and an entrepreneur were honored with the city's top award for science innovation yesterday.

It was the first time an entrepreneur received the award since 1992, officials from Shanghai Science and Technology Commission said.

The prizes went to Chen Haozhu, 86, a cardiovascular expert at Zhongshan Hospital, and Guan Tongxian, 77, former president of Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co Ltd, the world's largest crane, port equipment and steel structure maker.

They received the awards from Party secretary Yu Zhengsheng.

Guan, a living legend, resigned from the Ministry of Transport and came to Shanghai to create Zhenhua at the age of 59.

Under his management, Zhenhua became a leading company, with its products sold in 74 countries and regions.

"Scientific innovation is the only route where we can compete with developed countries in the field, for it just recognizes products with the best quality, the highest efficiency and the best technology," Guan said.

"Zhenhua achieved the goal of changing the focus from 'made in China' to 'invented by China'."

Different from the ambitious Guan, Dr. Chen Haozhu, an academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences, is a scholar who has spent his entire life in research of cardiovascular diseases.

After his mother died of a stroke due to hypertension when he was 14, Chen decided to study medicine.

He won two second prizes in the State Science and Technology Awards and six national and municipal first prizes. He also wrote more than 300 papers on the cardiovascular system and was the chief editor of eight books on the subject.
                                                                                     Source: ShanghaiDaily.com