Young scientists should be given resources while pursuing basic science and discoveries to think about adding value to their research so it can be translated into new drugs and biotechnology to improve people's lives, he said.

This month, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates was elected to China's top-tier science academy as the only nonacademic foreign academician. Analysts said that demonstrated China's increasing recognition of scientific and technological transformation mentality and capacity.

Stillman said investing in the young is the secret of success in Cold Spring Harbor and "that can be learned by China as well."

That would help generate lots of stories like that of Tu Youyou, who spent her career in China and found a new malaria treatment to benefit the world.

When asked if China could become the top science hub internationally like the postwar US, he replied "maybe."

In his opinion, the biggest barrier now is the language. "It's difficult for people to live here in China if they don't understand Chinese."

But luckily, that's the only major barrier, he added.

China has a lot to offer: smart people, a good educational system, great universities and most importantly a strong dedication from the top leadership to improve the nation's capabilities, such as in the sciences, he said.

"I think if there is a culture here, as well, to nurture the young to develop science, it'll benefit science all over the world," he added.

But he said the current science innovation center remains in the United States and Europe, largely due to good science opportunities and entrepreneurism. "But China has a lot to offer and can do that in the future."

In the US, Michael Rosbash, who shared this year's Nobel Prize for medicine, said last week that scientists are facing funding cutbacks that will hurt research, the Associated Press reported.

shanjuan@chinadaily.com.cn