Seize the Opportunity to Strengthen Original and Disruptive Scientific and Technological Innovation

Whether a country can continuously produce major original and disruptive scientific and technological achievements is the primary factor in measuring whether it possesses world-leading scientific and technological strength and innovation capability. Since the New Era, China’s scientific and technological innovation has shifted from quantitative accumulation to qualitative leaps, and from breakthroughs at individual points to improvements in systemic capability, increasingly approaching the global frontiers of science and technology. Looking ahead, to shape new drivers of development and new advantages in a more severe and complex domestic and international environment, it is necessary to change the innovation path, shifting from primarily relying on catch-up and incremental innovation to relying more on pioneering and leading innovation, thereby achieving a leap in the overall effectiveness of the national innovation system.

能否持续产出重大原创性、颠覆性科技成果，是衡量一个国家是否具备世界领先科技实力和创新能力的首要因素。新时代以来，我国科技创新从量的积累向质的飞跃、从点的突破向系统能力提升转变，日益走近世界科技前沿。面向未来，要在更为严峻复杂的内外部环境中塑造发展新动能新优势，必须改变创新路径，从主要依赖跟踪型、渐进式创新转向更多依靠开创型、引领型创新，进而实现国家创新体系整体效能的跃升。

Seize the Opportunity of Rapid Iteration in Technology Markets

抓住技术市场快速迭代机遇

At present, a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation is deepening. Digital technologies represented by artificial intelligence and advanced computing are accelerating breakthroughs, while technological innovations in life sciences, new energy, new materials, advanced manufacturing, deep space and deep sea are having an unprecedented and profound impact on global industrial, supply and value chains. Production methods characterized by intelligence, networking and distribution are changing the original “center-periphery” international division of labor, reshaping the economic competitiveness of nations and the global competitive landscape. Seizing the commanding heights of science, technology and industry has become an important factor influencing the initiative and strategic competitiveness of major countries. Furthermore, the relative status of traditional and new production factors is facing restructuring, and the connotation of high-end industrial structure is undergoing significant changes, increasingly reflected in marginal efficiency improvements and total factor productivity enhancements driven by inputs of technology, data and other factors. Only by seizing rapidly iterating technological and market opportunities and accelerating the construction of new competitive advantages can one fully enjoy the dividends of this round of technological revolution.

当前，新一轮科技革命和产业变革深入发展，以人工智能、先进计算等为代表的数字技术加速突破，生命科学、新能源、新材料、先进制造、深空深海等领域技术创新变革，对全球产业链、供应链、价值链产生前所未有的深远影响，以智能化、网络化、分布式为主要特征的生产方式正在改变原有“中心—外围”的国际分工格局，重塑各国经济竞争力和全球竞争格局。抢占科技和产业制高点成为影响大国发展主动权和战略竞争力的重要因素。此外，传统生产要素和新型生产要素的相对地位面临重构，产业结构高端化的内涵发生明显变化，更多体现为技术、数据等要素投入而导致的边际效率改善和全要素生产率提升。抓住快速迭代的技术和市场机会，加快构筑新的竞争优势，才能充分享受这一轮科技革命带来的红利。

Major technological breakthroughs in history have mostly exhibited strong discontinuity, meaning that new technologies often adopt entirely different routes or mechanisms from mainstream technologies. For example, transistor technology replaced vacuum tube technology, digital communication replaced analog communication, and power batteries gradually replaced fuel engines. This kind of discontinuous innovation generally has strong technological uncertainty and market disruptiveness, bringing a huge “creative destruction” effect to existing industries. For latecomer countries, under the current situation of accelerating technological progress and rising protectionism, the importance of discontinuous innovation is unprecedented. On the one hand, to change the situation of core technologies being controlled by others and to build “asymmetric advantages,” it is urgently necessary to strengthen discontinuous innovation. A large amount of practice shows that under conditions of intensified external technological restrictions and accelerated technological iteration, if the capacity for discontinuous innovation is lacking, the pace of technological progress may slow down or even stagnate, and the technological gap will widen. On the other hand, discontinuous innovation may produce disruptive effects, which are of great significance to the economic security, industrial security and even national security of countries, especially latecomer countries. Whether it is artificial intelligence, quantum computing or synthetic biology, their universality, autonomy and asymmetry are becoming increasingly prominent, and seeking discontinuous innovation will be an unavoidable dominant strategy.

历史上的重大技术突破大都呈现较强的非连续性，即新技术往往采用了与主流技术完全不同的新路线或新机理。比如，晶体管技术取代电子管技术，数字通信取代模拟通信，动力电池逐步替代燃油发动机。这种非连续性创新一般具有很强的技术不确定性和市场颠覆性，会给现有产业发展带来巨大的“创造性破坏”效应。对于后发国家而言，在当前技术进步加速和保护主义抬头的形势下，非连续性创新的重要性前所未有。一方面，改变核心技术受制于人的状况、构筑“非对称优势”，迫切需要加强非连续性创新。大量实践表明，在外部技术限制加剧、技术迭代加快的情况下，如缺乏非连续性创新能力，技术进步速度或将放缓甚至停滞，技术差距也将越拉越大。另一方面，非连续性创新可能产生颠覆性效果，对各国尤其是后发国家的经济安全、产业安全乃至国家安全意义重大。无论是人工智能、量子计算还是合成生物学，其通用性、自主性、不对称性日渐凸显，谋求非连续性创新将是不可回避的占优策略。

Many Favorable Conditions Exist

具备诸多有利条件

China’s level of science and technology investment is basically compatible with its current stage of development, the quality of scientific and technological output continues to improve rapidly, and supply capacity is increasingly strengthened. From the perspective of investment level, since the beginning of this century, China is the only large economy whose share of global R&D investment has maintained growth. Its R&D intensity has now exceeded the average level of OECD countries. From the perspective of output level, in 2022, China published 16,349 papers in the most influential journals across various disciplines, accounting for 30.3% of the world total, surpassing the United States for the first time to rank first in the world. In 2023, Chinese applicants submitted nearly 70,000 international patent applications through the Patent Cooperation Treaty, ranking first in the world for five consecutive years. From the perspective of technological capability, on the one hand, advanced technology is shifting from relying on external sources to a dual-wheel drive of external and endogenous sources. According to estimates, the proportion of R&D funds used by large and medium-sized high-tech enterprises in China for technology introduction dropped from 30% to 40% between 2000 and 2009 to 4% to 6% between 2010 and 2019. On the other hand, basic research supporting the supply of source technologies has significantly strengthened. From 2012 to 2023, China’s basic research expenditure increased from 49.88 billion yuan to 225.91 billion yuan, and its share of total R&D expenditure rose from 4.8% to 6.77%.

我国科技投入水平与所处发展阶段基本适应，科技产出质量持续快速提升，供给能力日益增强。从投入水平看，进入本世纪以来，我国是研发投资规模占全球研发比重唯一保持增长的大型经济体，目前研发强度已超过经济合作与发展组织国家平均水平。从产出水平看，2022年中国在各学科最具影响力期刊上发表的论文数为16349篇，占世界总量的30.3%，首次超过美国排名世界第一位。中国申请人通过《专利合作条约》途径提交的国际专利申请量2023年近7万件，连续五年居世界第一位。从技术能力看，一方面，先进技术正从依赖外源向外源与内生双轮驱动转变。据测算，我国大中型高技术企业内部研发经费中用于引进技术的比重从2000年至2009年的30%到40%降为2010年至2019年的4%到6%。另一方面，支持源头技术供给的基础研究明显增强，2012年至2023年，我国基础研究经费从498.8亿元升至2259.1亿元，占研发经费投入比重从4.8%升至6.77%。

The scale, structure and quality of innovation factor supply have significantly improved. In recent years, China’s ability to cultivate and attract scientific and technological talent has markedly strengthened, and the demographic dividend of talent is gradually becoming prominent. Currently, China ranks first in the world in total scientific and technological human resources. In terms of top scientific and technological talent, the 2023 list of highly cited researchers shows that among 6,849 highly cited researchers from 67 countries and regions, 1,275 researchers from mainland China were selected, with their share rising from 7.9% in 2018 to 17.9%, ranking second in the world. China has the conditions of scientific, technological and digital infrastructure to enter the global first echelon, having deployed and built 77 national major scientific and technological infrastructure projects. Large-scale scientific facilities represented by the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope, the China Spallation Neutron Source, the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory, and the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak provide important platforms for basic frontier research. The expansion and speed increase of 5G networks, optical fiber broadband networks and mobile IoT networks have brought total computing power to 230 EFLOPS, ranking second in the world. Data production continues to grow rapidly, with the total national data production reaching 32.85 ZB in 2023, providing strong support for the development of new fields and tracks such as big data, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing.

创新要素供给的规模、结构和质量明显改善。近年来，我国培养和吸引科技人才的水平明显增强，人才红利逐步凸显。当前，我国科技人力资源总量居世界第一位。从顶尖科技人才看，2023年全球高被引科学家名单显示，67个国家和地区的6849位高被引科学家中，中国内地研究人员共1275人入选，占比从2018年的7.9%升至17.9%，居全球第二位。我国具备迈入全球第一方阵的科技和数字基础设施条件，已布局建设77个国家重大科技基础设施。以500米口径球面射电望远镜、散裂中子源、高海拔宇宙线观测站、全超导托卡马克核聚变实验装置等为代表的大科学装置，为开展基础前沿研究提供了重要平台。5G网络、光纤宽带网络和移动物联网络扩容提速，算力总规模已达230EFLOPS，居世界第二位，数据产量保持快速增长态势，2023年全国数据生产总量达32.85ZB，这为大数据、人工智能、先进制造等新领域新赛道发展提供了强大支撑。

The motivation and capability of innovation entities have greatly improved. After years of catch-up, the overall innovation activity of Chinese enterprises has significantly increased, and the group of high-growth enterprises continues to expand. In 2022, there were 176,000 industrial enterprises above the designated size nationwide that engaged in R&D activities, accounting for 37.3% of all industrial enterprises above the designated size, an increase of 26.7 percentage points from 2000. R&D expenditure of industrial enterprises above the designated size was 1,936.2 billion yuan, with an R&D intensity of 1.4%, an increase of 1.2 percentage points from 2000. According to the “2023 EU Industrial R&D Investment Scoreboard” released by the European Commission, in 2023, 679 companies from mainland China were listed among the “Global Top 2500 R&D Investors,” accounting for 27.2% of the global total, second only to the United States.

创新主体的动力和能力大幅提高。经过多年追赶，我国企业整体创新活跃度明显上升，高成长性企业群体持续扩大。2022年，全国规模以上工业企业中有研发活动的企业达17.6万家，占规模以上工业企业的比重为37.3%，比2000年提高26.7个百分点；规模以上工业研究与试验发展经费支出19362亿元，研发投入强度为1.4%，比2000年提高了1.2个百分点。据欧盟执委会发布的《2023年欧盟工业研发投资记分牌》数据，2023年中国大陆企业在“全球研发前2500强企业”上榜数为679家，全球占比27.2%，仅次于美国。

The advantages of economies of scale supporting a large country’s innovation are prominent. The advantage of economies of scale is a prominent competitive advantage for China, especially against the backdrop of accelerating technological progress and deep adjustment of economic globalization. This advantage has become key to determining a country’s economic competitiveness. From the supply side, China has the most complete industrial system in the world, and the added value of its manufacturing industry has ranked first in the world for many consecutive years. Economies of scale help enterprises amortize costs, facilitate mutual learning and technology diffusion among enterprises, and allow different enterprises to try different technological routes and business models, providing broad growth space for enterprises in numerous niche fields. From the demand side, China has become the world’s second-largest consumer market. As residents’ income levels rise and the middle-income group expands, the advantages of the super-large market will become further prominent. China is the world’s largest trading nation, the second-largest importer, and a major source and destination of foreign direct investment. The huge scale and diversity of consumer demand are conducive to innovation and trial-and-error by a wider range of enterprises, reducing the cost of discontinuous innovation.

支撑大国创新的规模经济优势突出。规模经济优势是我国的突出竞争优势，尤其在技术进步加速、经济全球化深度调整的背景下，这种优势已成为决定国家经济竞争力的关键。从供给侧看，我国拥有全球最完整的产业体系，制造业增加值已连续多年居世界首位。规模经济有助于企业摊薄成本、企业间相互学习和技术扩散、不同企业尝试不同的技术路线和商业模式，可以为众多细分领域企业提供广阔的成长空间。从需求侧看，我国已成为全球第二大消费市场，随着居民收入水平提高和中等收入群体扩大，超大规模市场优势将进一步凸显。我国是全球最大贸易国、第二大进口国、主要的外商直接投资来源国和目的地，消费需求的巨大规模和多样性有利于更大范围的企业创新试错，降低非连续性创新成本。

Build New Advantages in Scientific, Technological and Industrial Competition

构筑科技和产业竞争新优势

Although China’s scientific and technological undertakings have made considerable progress, its original innovation capability is still relatively weak, some key core technologies are controlled by others, and top scientific and technological talent is insufficient. It is necessary to further strengthen the sense of urgency, increase the intensity of scientific and technological innovation, and seize the commanding heights of scientific and technological competition and future development. To build future competitive advantages in science, technology and industry, greater attention must be paid to original and disruptive scientific and technological innovation, supporting national development and security with high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and self-strengthening.

虽然我国科技事业发展取得了长足进步，但原始创新能力还相对薄弱，一些关键核心技术受制于人，顶尖科技人才不足，必须进一步增强紧迫感，加大科技创新力度，抢占科技竞争和未来发展制高点。构筑科技和产业未来竞争优势，需更加重视原创性、颠覆性科技创新，以高水平科技自立自强为国家发展和安全提供支撑。

Raise the level of basic research and the forward-looking, leading layout of science and technology plans. Persist in giving prominence to original capacity, advance in a coordinated way both goal-oriented basic research and free-exploration basic research, support high-risk, high-value basic research, and promote industry-university-research collaboration in tackling major scientific problems in industrial innovation. Improve the basic research investment mechanism that combines competitive support with stable support, and encourage qualified enterprises and social organizations to increase their support. Establish a mechanism for refining science and technology plans that combines top-down and bottom-up approaches, and accelerate the layout of a batch of strategic, holistic and forward-looking major science and technology tasks. According to the actual situation of different tasks, adopt a more flexible and open attitude, promote coordination among various entities, and give full play to the role of the market mechanism in talent selection and resource allocation. Break away from quantitative and indicator-based assessment, deepen the reform of science and technology evaluation, and better leverage the role of the scientific community.

提升基础研究水平和科技计划的前瞻性、引领性布局。坚持把原创能力摆在突出位置，统筹推进目标导向的基础研究和自由探索的基础研究，支持高风险、高价值基础研究，促进产学研协同攻关产业创新中的重大科学问题。完善竞争性支持和稳定支持相结合的基础研究投入机制，鼓励有条件的企业和社会组织加大支持力度。建立自上而下和自下而上相结合的科技计划凝练机制，加快布局一批具有战略性、全局性和前瞻性的重大科技任务。根据不同任务实际，采取更加灵活和开放的态度，促进各类主体协同，在人才选用、资源配置等方面充分发挥市场机制作用。打破数量化、指标化考核，深化科技评价改革，更好发挥科学共同体作用。

Coordinate and strengthen strategic scientific and technological forces and market-oriented innovation forces. On the one hand, strengthen the systematic development of national strategic scientific and technological forces. Improve the national laboratory system with Chinese characteristics, led by national laboratories and supported by key national laboratories, and optimize the positioning and layout of national research institutions, high-level research universities, and leading science and technology enterprises. On the other hand, strengthen the principal position of enterprises in scientific and technological innovation and their international competitiveness. Highlight problem orientation and medium- to long-term incentives, and promote the solid implementation of more innovation policies benefiting enterprises, such as R&D support, achievement transformation, access for new technologies and new products, government procurement, and intellectual property protection. Support leading science and technology enterprises to leverage their advantages in market demand, integrated innovation, and organizational platforms, leading and driving key industries and emerging industries to climb to the high end of the global value chain.

统筹加强战略科技力量和市场化创新力量。一方面，加强国家战略科技力量体系化发展。健全以国家实验室为引领、全国重点实验室为支撑的中国特色国家实验室体系，优化国家科研机构、高水平研究型大学、科技领军企业定位和布局。另一方面，强化企业科技创新主体地位和国际竞争力。突出问题导向和中长期激励，推动研发支持、成果转化、新技术新产品准入、政府采购、知识产权保护等更多惠企创新政策扎实落地。支持科技领军企业发挥市场需求、集成创新、组织平台优势，引领带动重点产业和新兴产业向全球价值链高端攀升。

Build a talent development, financial support and industrial system that is compatible with original innovation. Advance in a coordinated way the integrated reform of the systems and mechanisms for education, science and technology, and talent; improve the training model for top-notch innovative talents; place greater emphasis on cultivating scientific spirit, innovation ability and critical thinking; improve the mechanism for the orderly cross-department and cross-region flow of talent; and implement more active and open policies for attracting, utilizing and retaining talent. Improve support policies for long-term capital to invest early, invest small, and invest long; accelerate the development of angel investment, venture capital and private equity investment; better leverage the role of government guidance funds; and accelerate the reform of the capital market. Expand advanced manufacturing clusters and establish a mechanism for increasing investment in future industries.

构建同原始创新相适应的人才发展、金融支持和产业体系。统筹推进教育科技人才体制机制一体改革，完善拔尖创新人才培养模式，更加重视科学精神、创新能力和批判性思维的培育，完善人才跨部门跨地区有序流动机制，实施更加积极开放的人才“引、用、留”政策。完善长期资本投早、投小、投长期的支持政策，加快发展天使投资、创业投资和私募股权投资，更好发挥政府引导基金作用，加快推动资本市场改革。壮大先进制造业集群，建立未来产业投入增长机制。

Enhance the global innovation position in high-level opening up. Continuously strengthen the construction of an internationalized scientific research environment; expand non-governmental international scientific and technological cooperation in advantageous and emerging fields; improve the systems and mechanisms for the development of foreign-funded high-tech enterprises and international scientific and technological organizations in China; deeply participate in global science and technology governance; and strive to build a partnership of win-win cooperation. Further increase the intensity of institutional opening up; establish and improve institutional systems aligned with international rules in areas such as market opening, factor flow, intellectual property, fair competition, and industry regulation; and accelerate the creation of a stable, transparent, and predictable first-class business environment and an open innovation ecosystem with global competitiveness.

在高水平开放中提升全球创新位势。持续加强国际化科研环境建设，在优势和新兴领域扩大民间国际科技合作，完善外资高科技企业、国际科技组织在华发展体制机制，深度参与全球科技治理，努力构建合作共赢的伙伴关系。进一步加大制度型开放力度，在市场开放、要素流动、知识产权、公平竞争、行业监管等领域建立健全与国际规则接轨的制度体系，加快打造稳定、透明、可预期的一流营商环境和具有全球竞争力的开放创新生态。

(The author is Director and Researcher of the Innovation and Development Research Department of the Development Research Center of the State Council)

（作者系国务院发展研究中心创新发展研究部研究室主任、研究员）

Online editor: Huihui

网络编辑：慧慧