Sheng Chaoxun: Identifying Key Grips for High-Level Science and Technology Self-Reliance and Self-Improvement
By Sheng Chaoxun
With the sudden emergence of DeepSeek and the continuous iteration of ChatGPT, science and technology competition has become the critical battlefield in the grand strategy game [1] between major powers. Amidst the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI), the urgency for technological innovation has become even more prominent. General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized that we must fully recognize the strategic leading position and fundamental supporting role of science and technology. We must anchor ourselves to the strategic goal of becoming a global power in science and technology by 2035, strengthen top-level design and overall planning, and accelerate the realization of high-level self-reliance and self-strength in science and technology. We must fully grasp the significance of high-level technological self-reliance, identify the key levers, clarify our general logic and primary tasks, and strive to use technological innovation to shape new drivers and advantages for development.
Every major scientific and technological revolution in human history has given birth to epoch-making disruptive technologies, leading to leaps in productive forces and major transformations in economy and society. Currently, a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation is developing in depth. Disruptive technologies in fields such as big data, cloud computing, AI, biotechnology, new energy, and new materials are exhibiting a trend of multi-point breakthroughs, accelerated iteration, and cross-disciplinary fusion. International competition in technology and industry is intensifying; countries around the world are accelerating their strategic layout for emerging technologies, and the competitive game between major powers is escalating. Accelerating the realization of high-level technological self-reliance will help promote rapid breakthroughs in key core technologies, ensure the smooth circulation of domestic industrial, supply, and value chains, facilitate the emergence of original and disruptive technologies, and promote the close integration of technology with the economy. This will continuously increase industrial value-added, improve total factor productivity, and accelerate the cultivation of new economic drivers.
Innovation Capabilities Reach a New Stage
Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC [2], China has placed technological innovation at the core of the overall national development framework. By strengthening top-level design, forward-looking planning, and systematic deployment, the country has driven a significant increase in technological strength, the gradual improvement of the innovation system, and a new stage for innovation capabilities.
Continuous breakthroughs in key core technologies. Ensuring that key core technologies are independent and controllable is a defining feature of high-level technological self-reliance. In recent years, with the implementation of major national science and technology projects and national key research and development plans, and the continuous improvement of corporate innovation, breakthroughs have been achieved in core and key common technologies across several key fields. Significant progress has been made in the R&D of commercial large aircraft, key components, and foundational software. Fruitful results have been achieved in numerous fields including third-generation nuclear power, 5G industrialization, new energy vehicles, supercomputing, high-speed rail, and large aircraft.
Major original technologies continue to emerge. Breakthroughs have been concentrated in foundational fields such as quantum science, space science, iron-based superconductivity, and synthetic biology. The development of new technologies like 6G, AI, quantum communication, and intelligent driving has been remarkable. The world’s first sampling from the far side of the moon was achieved, alongside a batch of landmark and leading major original achievements. The "2022 Technology Level Assessment Results" released by South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT in 2024 showed that China's overall technical level in 11 fields—including construction/transportation, aerospace/maritime, and nanomaterials—has surpassed South Korea's. China’s technological level ranks fourth in the world overall, and third in the world across 50 strategic technology fields, surpassing both Japan and South Korea.
High-level international cooperation in science and technology is steadily advancing. Facing the world’s changes unseen in a century [3], China has more actively integrated into the global innovation network, enhancing its own innovation capabilities through open cooperation. According to data from the Ministry of Science and Technology, China has established cooperative relations with more than 160 countries, signed 114 intergovernmental cooperation agreements, and conducted joint project funding research with 47 countries. China has joined more than 200 international organizations and multilateral mechanisms, with over 1,200 Chinese experts and scholars holding senior positions in international scientific organizations. The Alliance of International Science Organizations (ANSO) in the Belt and Road Region was established, supporting more than 8,300 young scientists from 42 countries to conduct short-term research in China and initiating the construction of 53 joint laboratories.
The innovation ecosystem continues to be optimized. From 2012 to 2024, China's total social research and experimental development (R&D) expenditure increased from 1.03 trillion yuan to 3.61 trillion yuan, and R&D intensity [4] rose from 1.91% to 2.68%, exceeding the average level of EU countries. In 2024, investment in basic research reached 249.7 billion yuan, accounting for 6.91% of R&D expenditure, achieving sustained and rapid development. A total of 1.045 million invention patents were authorized, a year-on-year increase of 13.5%. Currently, China produces more than 5 million graduates in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) majors every year, leading the world.
Focusing on Key Areas to Enhance Technological Strength
To accelerate the goal of high-level technological self-reliance, we must focus on key areas such as basic research, corporate innovation capabilities, talent, and the innovation ecosystem. We must continuously refine the innovation environment, transform innovation methods, and improve the industrial technology innovation system characterized by the deep integration of "basic research—technological assault [5]—transformation of achievements—industrial application." By continuously strengthening independent innovation capabilities, China will possess robust strength in basic research, breakthroughs in key core technologies, frontier R&D, original innovation, and the cultivation of high-quality technological talent, placing it at the forefront of global innovation.
Accelerate breakthroughs in key areas. With the primary goal of improving independent innovation capabilities, we must adhere to the combination of "points and chains" [6], emphasize the role of enterprises as the main body, coordinate departments, and pursue both "filling gaps" and "strengthening advantages." We should give full play to the advantages of the new-type whole-of-nation system [7], strengthen national strategic technological forces, and accelerate breakthroughs in major original innovations, foundational equipment, key parts, core materials, processes, software, instruments, reagents, information data, and resources. We must establish and improve a supply mechanism for key technologies, equipment, and products led by and relying on domestic enterprises, research institutions, and talent, further enhancing the level of technological and economic security and firmly grasping the autonomy and initiative of technological development.
Further deepen the reform of the science and technology system. The key to achieving high-level technological self-reliance is forming institutional mechanisms conducive to the steady stream of key core technologies and major original technologies, focusing on stimulating human initiative and creativity. We should explore "scientist-led institutes," selecting top scientists to serve as heads of research institutes, granting them and project leaders greater power over determining technical routes, controlling budgets, and scheduling resources. We must continuously optimize the new-type whole-of-nation system, the stimulation mechanism for original technology, the open cooperation mechanism, the innovation ecosystem cultivation mechanism, and the sustained investment mechanism. We should promote the integration and coordination of existing innovation platforms, projects, policies, and resources to quickly form a technological innovation system that conforms to the laws of scientific research, effectively meets national development and market needs, respects knowledge, encourages innovation, is open and inclusive, and is full of vitality.
Significantly enhance the innovation capabilities of enterprises. Adhering to the principle of enterprises as the main body, we must further deepen "industry-university-research" cooperation [8]. We should establish an applied technology R&D mechanism guided by the actual needs of enterprises, promoting the accelerated aggregation of high-quality talent, capital, data, computing power, and R&D platforms toward enterprises. We must give play to the role of leading technology enterprises as those who "set the question," "answer the question," and "grade the paper." Support the construction of an innovation ecosystem where the chains of innovation, industry, capital, talent, and policy support each other. This will promote the smooth transformation of technological achievements, the effective support of financial capital, and the deep application of innovation scenarios, pushing China's manufacturing toward the high end of the global value chain through technological self-reliance.
Consolidate the foundation of talent. We must improve the selection, evaluation, and incentive mechanisms for leading technological talent, establishing an evaluation system oriented toward innovation value, capability, and contribution. We should vigorously cultivate and introduce leading technological talent, young technological talent, and innovation teams, focusing on solving the shortage of top-tier talent. We should actively create opportunities and platforms for high-level "composite" [9] talent with the potential to be strategic scientists to undertake major technological tasks and participate in major innovation practices. This allows them to play a "commander" role in leading major original innovations, participating in the top-level design of education and technology strategies, and promoting cross-disciplinary integration. We must also leverage the active role of entrepreneurs in promoting technological innovation, resource integration, and international development, fostering the continuous emergence of more innovative entrepreneurs.
Continuously promote open innovation. We must strengthen the construction of an internationalized scientific research environment and create an innovation environment with international competitiveness and attractiveness. We should increase the openness of large-scale scientific facilities and world-class major technological infrastructure to the outside world, regularly soliciting the needs of international research teams and clarifying regulations on data sharing to improve efficiency and promote Sino-foreign cooperation. Focusing on major common issues facing humanity, we should host frontier innovation forums and exchange activities to inspire innovative ideas, disseminate innovation concepts, stimulate the spirit of innovation, and promote international cooperation in science and technology.
(The author, Sheng Chaoxun, is the Director and Researcher of the Strategic Policy Office of the Academy of Macroeconomic Research.)
Source: Economic Daily Web Editor: Huihui