563 academicians from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE ) reviewed big achievements made by Chinese and abroad scientists in 2009 and decided on top ten science and technology breakthroughs within and without China. Their choices were released on January 20, 2009. 

 Ranging from the first, China's top ten Sci-Tech breakthroughs are:
1. China’s first Petaflop supercomputer developed by the National University of Defense Technology,
2. China established its first inland Antarctic research station,
3. China's biggest large-scale scientific facility SSRF completed,
4. Chinese scientists’ breakthrough in quantum computer research,
5. China producing world's first approved swine flu vaccine,
6. Chinese scientists created world's first cloned mouse from iPS cells,
7. China developed sodium-sulfur battery with high energy density,
8. Dinosaur fossils uncovered in north-eastern China display the earliest known feathers,
9. Silicon purification by a New Type of Solar Furnace,
10. Industrial demonstration of the synthesis of ethylene glycol from coal.

The world top ten Sci-tech breakthroughs are:
1. NASA found reservoir of water ice on the Moon,
2. LHC (Large Hadron Collider) set new world record,
3. A new way of killing cancer cell found by British researchers,
4. Discovery of methane on Mars,
5. AIDS vaccine breakthrough announced in Thailand,
6. Chinese scientists created world's first cloned mouse from iPS cells,
7. RNA that replicates itself indefinitely developed for the first time,
8. First programmable quantum computer created,
9. Oldest human fossils identified,
10. Launch of the Herschel telescope, the most powerful infrared telescope.

The selection was organized by the Academician Bureau of CAS, Academic Administration of CAE and Science Times. It was the 16th selection since the first time it was held and had gained more publicity and popularity among the press and the public.