“From Following to Leading” Demonstrates the Strong Strength of Scientific and Technological Innovation

Recently, the *National Innovation Index Report 2024* released by the Chinese Academy of Science and Technology for Development shows that in 2024, China’s comprehensive ranking on the National Innovation Index jumped to 10th place in the world. In 2012, China’s National Innovation Index ranking was 20th; within just over ten years, its position has risen significantly, and it is the only middle-income country to have entered the world’s top ten.

近日，中国科学技术发展战略研究院发布的《国家创新指数报告2024》显示，2024年中国国家创新指数综合排名跃居世界第10位。2012年我国国家创新指数排名第20位，短短10余年间位次大幅提升，更是唯一跻身世界前十的中等收入国家。

The report shows that China’s comprehensive ranking in the innovation resources dimension has risen to fifth place, its ranking in the knowledge creation dimension to seventh, the global share of highly cited papers has increased and ranks first in the world, the number of valid invention patents has reached 3.351 million, ranking first in the world, and the rankings for innovation performance and innovation environment have also risen markedly. This fully demonstrates that China’s investment in innovation resources has continued to increase, innovation output has improved, and the strength of scientific and technological innovation is robust, effectively supporting high-quality development.

报告显示，中国创新资源维度综合排名提升至第五位，知识创造维度排名第七，高被引论文数占世界份额提升且排名世界第一，有效发明专利数量达335.1万件，居世界首位，创新绩效和创新环境排名位次也明显上升。这充分显示出我国创新资源投入持续增加、创新产出提高，科技创新实力强劲，有力支撑了高质量发展。

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC [1]1 The 18th National Congress of the CPC was held in 2012, marking the beginning of the Xi Jinping era and the launch of the comprehensive deepening of reforms., the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has precisely anchored the new historical juncture of China’s and the world’s development, placed scientific and technological innovation at the core of the national strategy, unswervingly deepened the implementation of the innovation-driven development strategy, and clearly established the grand goal of building an innovative country. Through continuously and boldly deepening the reform of the science and technology system, and effectively promoting scientific and technological self-reliance and self-strengthening, China’s scientific and technological undertakings have been able to reach a new level. Under the guidance of the new development philosophy [2]2 The new development philosophy refers to the five concepts of innovative, coordinated, green, open, and shared development, introduced by Xi Jinping in 2015., the Party Central Committee has attached great importance to basic research, concentrated elite forces to overcome key core technologies, made every effort to open up the “last kilometer” of the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, and accelerated the transformation of scientific and technological achievements into real productive forces. This series of far-sighted measures, like a powerful engine, has injected immense momentum into the high-quality development of China’s economy and society, and has further consolidated a solid foundation for the improvement of the innovation index.

党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央精准锚定我国与世界发展的全新历史方位，将科技创新置于国家战略的核心要地，坚定不移地深入推进创新驱动发展战略，明确立下建设创新型国家的宏伟目标。通过持续大刀阔斧地深化科技体制改革，有力推动科技自立自强，我国科技事业得以迈上新台阶。在新发展理念的引领下，党中央高度重视基础研究工作，集中精锐力量攻克关键核心技术，全力打通科技成果转化的“最后一公里”，加速科技成果向现实生产力转变。这一系列高瞻远瞩的举措犹如强劲引擎，为我国经济社会的高质量发展注入磅礴动力，更为创新指数的提升夯实了稳固根基。

Under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee, with the concerted efforts and broad participation of the whole society, and the hard work and selfless dedication of scientific and technological personnel, China’s innovation index has been steadily improving. The steady improvement in the level of education has provided high-quality talent for innovation and development, and the widespread popularization of innovation culture has allowed the seeds of innovation to take root and sprout throughout society; together, these two factors have injected a source of vitality into innovation. The strong support of science and technology policies has greatly stimulated the innovation enthusiasm of enterprises and research institutions. China’s large and high-quality team of scientific and technological talent is an even more precious asset for promoting innovation; they are rooted in the front line of scientific research, diligently studying, boldly exploring, and efficiently transforming scientific research achievements into actual productive forces. China’s voice in international scientific and technological competition has been continuously strengthened, many core technologies have achieved breakthroughs, and it has gradually transformed from “following” to “running alongside” and even “leading” in some fields, becoming an important force leading the world’s innovation trend.

在党中央的坚强领导下，全社会齐心协力广泛参与，科技人员辛勤耕耘无私奉献，我国创新指数得以稳步提升。教育水平的稳步提高，为创新发展输送高素质人才，创新文化的广泛普及，让创新的种子在全社会生根发芽，二者共同为创新注入活力源泉。科技政策的大力扶持，极大地激发了企业和科研机构的创新热情。我国庞大且高素质的科技人才队伍，更是推动创新的宝贵财富，他们扎根科研一线，潜心钻研、勇于探索，将科研成果高效转化为实际生产力。我国在国际科技竞争中话语权不断增强，众多核心技术实现突破，从“跟跑”逐步转变为“并跑”甚至部分领域“领跑”，成为引领世界创新潮流的重要力量。

The key to Chinese-path modernization lies in the modernization of science and technology. Scientific and technological innovation drives the great ship of Chinese-path modernization to break waves and forge ahead, while Chinese-path modernization opens up development space for scientific and technological innovation; the two complement each other and are deeply integrated, promoting China’s steady progress on the new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country. In the New Era, we must unswervingly uphold the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee over scientific and technological work. We must unswervingly follow the path of independent innovation with Chinese characteristics, give full play to the unique advantages of the new nationwide system for mobilizing resources [3]3 The new nationwide system for mobilizing resources (新型举国体制) is a state-led mechanism that concentrates national resources to achieve breakthroughs in strategic technologies, updated from the earlier planned-economy model., and make every effort to accelerate the pace of high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and self-strengthening. We must down-to-earth promote the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation, providing solid support for the development of new quality productive forces. We must stimulate innovation vitality through deepening reform, resolutely break down the ideological barriers and institutional and mechanistic obstacles that constrain scientific and technological innovation, and effectively transform institutional advantages into advantages in scientific and technological competition. We must promote the coordinated development of education, science and technology, and talent as a whole, and make every effort to build new advantages in talent competition. We must consistently practice the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind, actively promote open cooperation in science and technology, deeply integrate into the global innovation network, and work hand in hand with all countries in the world to jointly address global challenges such as climate change, food security, and energy security, continuously enhance China’s influence in global science and technology governance, and let scientific and technological achievements benefit all mankind.

中国式现代化关键在科技现代化。科技创新驱动中国式现代化的巨轮破浪前行，中国式现代化又为科技创新开辟发展空间，二者相辅相成、深度融合，推动中国在全面建设社会主义现代化国家新征程中稳步迈进。新时代，我们必须毫不动摇地坚持党中央对科技工作的集中统一领导。坚定不移地走中国特色自主创新道路，充分发挥新型举国体制的独特优势，全力加快高水平科技自立自强的步伐。脚踏实地推动科技创新与产业创新深度融合，为新质生产力发展提供坚实支撑。以深化改革激发创新活力，坚决破除束缚科技创新的思想藩篱和体制机制障碍，切实将制度优势转化为科技竞争优势。一体推进教育、科技、人才事业协同发展，全力构筑人才竞争新优势。始终如一地践行构建人类命运共同体理念，积极推动科技开放合作，深度融入全球创新网络，携手世界各国共同应对气候变化、粮食安全、能源安全等全球性挑战，持续提升中国在全球科技治理中的影响力，让科技成果造福全人类。

At present, China is steadily advancing towards the grand goal of building a world-leading scientific and technological power by 2035. To successfully achieve this goal, we should increase the intensity of investment in innovation resources, continuously optimize the systematic layout of the national strategic scientific and technological forces, focus on improving the level of basic research and original innovation capabilities, promote the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation, comprehensively enhance the overall efficiency of the national innovation system, and provide stronger support and guidance for high-quality development. Looking to the future, China will certainly continue to uphold the concept of benefiting mankind through open cooperation in science and technology, contribute Chinese wisdom and strength to addressing global challenges, and shine with even more brilliant splendor on the world stage of science and technology.

当前，我国正朝着2035年建成科技强国的宏伟目标稳步迈进。为顺利实现这一目标，我们应加大创新资源投入力度，持续优化国家战略科技力量的体系化布局，着力提升基础研究水平与原始创新能力，促进科技创新与产业创新深度交融，全面提升国家创新体系整体效能，为高质量发展提供更为强劲的支撑与引领。展望未来，中国必将继续秉持科技开放合作造福人类的理念，为应对全球性挑战贡献中国智慧与力量，在世界科技舞台上绽放更加璀璨夺目的光彩。

(Author: Tian Pengying, is a Distinguished Researcher of the National Red Gene Inheritance Center [4]4 The National Red Gene Inheritance Center (全国红色基因传承中心) is a Chinese research institution focused on studying and promoting the revolutionary heritage and ideology of the CPC. and a Distinguished Professor of the Changjiang Scholars Program of the Ministry of Education [5]5 The Changjiang Scholars Program (长江学者奖励计划) is a prestigious Chinese government initiative to recruit and support leading academics in higher education.)

（作者：田鹏颖，系全国红色基因传承中心特约研究员、教育部长江学者特聘教授）

Online Editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心