China recognised the significance of semiconductors to her economic development and national security very early on. In 1956, China's State Council gathered a group of scientists to develop the "Outline for Science and Technology Development, 1956-1967", which identified semiconductor technology as a key priority. Soon thereafter, five major Chinese universities began offering semiconductor-related degrees. In addition, several factories commenced production, the most notable being the Huajing Group's Wuxi Factory No. 742 which started operation in 1960. By 1965, when the Chinese Academy of Science started IC research, the industry was far ahead of those in Taiwan and South Korea and at least as sophisticated as Japan.