Reform and Opening-Up30In recent years, China has experienced rapid economic growth, significant technological advancements, and a marked increase in national strength. However, the traditional growth model faces major challenges: the demographic dividend is fading, labor costs are rising, and natural resources and the environment are becoming depleted as the economy enters a new phase. “new normal”Extensive investment-driven growth is no longer sustainable. To prevent falling into the middle-income trap, China must upgrade its industries through innovation. At the same time, global competition in the technological revolution is intensifying. Countries like the U.S., Germany, and Japan have launched national strategies to secure high ground. China now faces a squeeze from above—high-end blockades—and from below—low-end pressure, with core technologies such as chips, industrial software, and advanced equipment under control by others. “Bottleneck”History has proven: innovation drives national prosperity. To achieve national rejuvenation, we must seize opportunities in the new round of technological revolution, such as:AIThe opportunities for leapfrogging in fields such as quantum computing, biotechnology, and new energy have been validated by the success of the new energy sector.

2012In China, the innovation-driven development strategy was formally launched, with technological innovation as its core and a commitment to “Four Orientations”: Focus on the forefront of global science and technology, the main battlefield of economic development, major national needs, and people's health. By combining a whole-of-nation approach with market mechanisms, we will achieve high-level self-reliance in science and technology and ultimately build a leading scientific nation. The core of this strategy is technological self-reliance and strength—ensuring key core technologies are independently controlled and possessing strong original innovation capabilities. To ensure successful implementation, efforts will focus on the following four areas.

1.  
Leveraging China's national strategic scientific and technological forces, including the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Engineering, national laboratories, top-tier universities, and leading technology enterprises.

2.  
Drive innovation through enterprises, with deep integration of industry, academia, and research.

3.  
Establish from basic research→Technical Breakthrough→Commercialization→Industry Incubation→A full-chain ecosystem for fintech.

4.  
Implement a new whole-of-nation system to break through “Paper-First”Ideas to strengthen intellectual property protection.

Forge a path with Chinese characteristics to drive national innovation. The dual engines of the whole-nation system and a super-large-scale market enable concentrated resources for tackling key challenges. “Bottleneck” Technology that enables rapid scaling and validation of business viability, forAIBig data and autonomous driving enable massive application scenarios, with innovation directly serving industrial upgrading and public needs. Collaborative innovation across the entire value chain—from R&D to manufacturing to market—bridges the path from basic research to commercialization, achieving the highest efficiency in closing the loop. The government sets direction and builds platforms while enterprises take the lead, deeply integrating an effective market with a proactive government. Large enterprises lead the way, while SMEs drive a vast volume of innovation, resulting in global leadership in innovation breadth.

Significant results have been achieved to date. As of2025 Year, R&D expenditure reached3.93 trillion yuan, ranking second globally; Global Innovation IndexGIIPromote to 11 positions; ranks first globally in total R&D personnel;PCTPatent international applications have increased for consecutive 8 Ranked first globally. China has now entered the ranks of innovative nations, shifting from catching up to running parallel with, and even leading in select fields. Photovoltaics, wind power, and energy storage rank first worldwide; production and sales of new energy vehicles 9Consecutive global championship titles for the year.5GMobile payments, e-commerce, big data applications, high-speed rail, large aircraft C919Leading globally in BeiDou navigation and deep-sea exploration. Holding a global leadership position in frontier technologies such as quantum communication, controlled nuclear fusion, and deep-space exploration (Chang'e and Tianwen).

China's innovation-driven strategy is a core national policy to address internal and external challenges and achieve national rejuvenation. Aiming for technological self-reliance and strength, it has forged a unique path that combines the whole-nation system with market mechanisms, emphasizing both application-led demand and breakthroughs across the entire value chain. While significant progress has been made, foundational research and core technologies remain areas of weakness. Moving forward, China will accelerate its transition toward original innovation, global leadership, and new quality productive forces, establishing a distinctive Chinese model of innovation that differentiates itself from competitors like the U.S. and Germany.