Chinese scientists' breakthroughs in temperature control systems for semiconductors have helped the country overcome its reliance on imports, said Sun Dongming, a researcher from the Institute of Metal Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress.

Indigenous temperature control equipment is now being used in telecommunications, vehicle radars and biomedicine, Sun said during a news briefing on the sidelines of the first session of the 14th NPC in Beijing.

Computer chips can grow hot when used, so temperature control systems are critical to the longevity and performance of semiconductors. "It is like an air conditioning for chips," he said.

Sun said basic sciences are the source of innovation. After his team made breakthroughs in this technology, the academy and the Liaoning provincial government supported its commercialization, which quickly turned scientific findings into actual products.

Now, China can produce over 300,000 pieces of temperature control equipment every month, thus reducing the need to import from other countries, he said.

"As a deputy to the National People's Congress and a scientist, I will continue to shoulder the duty of making new breakthroughs and innovations to serve my country's pursuit of self-reliance in science and technology and transformation into a global science and technology powerhouse," he said.