China has tripled spending on developing nanotechnology over the past five years, according to a national nanotechnology coordination committee. Over US$760 million was invested between 2006 and 2010. Three nanotechnology research centers at the national level were established with the funding, including the National Center for Nanoscience and Technology. China now is second largest in terms of patent applications concerning nanotechnology worldwide, according to the committee. Wan Gang, the Minister of Science and Technology, said China would design national nanotechnology programs during the next five years in order to seek original breakthroughs. Bai Chunli, the acting vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), however, warned that despite the progress being made, China still faces several problems in developing nanotechnology, including insufficient understanding of the industrial need for the technology.