Editor’s note: This article is based on interviews with Song Hefa, deputy head of the Institute of Intellectual Property at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Zhang Nan, a researcher from the College of Comparative Law, China University of Political Science and Law. The article reflects the authors’ opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

China’s continuous rise in global innovation further ensures the country's position “in the group of leading innovative nations,” according to The Global Innovation Index 2019 released by the U.N. intellectual property agency on July 24.

In the latest list of nearly 130 countries, China has seen itself rise from 17th to 14th position, becoming the only developing country among the top 20 ranking. The report highlighted China’s innovation strengths - “It maintains top ranks in patents by origin, industrial designs, and trademarks by origin as well as high-tech net exports and creative goods exports.”

Efforts pay off

“I think China has made brilliant achievements regarding creativity and innovation. And there are at least three major reasons: providing quality laws and regulations to respect and stimulate innovation; investing in the human capital and research sector; and promoting the culture of learning and training,” Zhang Nan, a researcher from the College of Comparative Law, China University of Political Science and Law, said about China’s achievement in innovation.

Innovation is at the heart of many Chinese regulations. With the launch of the 13th Five-Year Plan in 2016, the Chinese government has set goals for the country to become an "innovative nation" by 2020, an "international innovation leader" by 2030, and a "world powerhouse of scientific and technological innovation" by 2050.

In the past years, China has also attached high importance to human capital and education. The sheer volume of college and university graduates in 2019 expanded to about 8.34 million while in 2002 it was only of 1.45 million. With the brain gains, China can provide enough reserve of talents for its future innovation.

Besides, training has been one important aspect where China puts a lot of effort. And this is also certified by The Global Innovation Index 2019, which grants China the No.1 position in firms offering training. “Part-time degrees, online and distance learning, and short-term training are very popular in China, creating good business environment and encouraging professionalism, social networking and brain storming,” said Zhang.

Protectionism slows growth in innovation

While the report says innovation has been in development around the world, it also emphasizes the factors which may hamper growth in innovation. Among others, protectionism is selected out.

“Increased protectionism — in particular, protectionism that impacts technology-intensive sectors and knowledge flows — poses risks to global innovation networks and innovation diffusion," the report said.

The lingering China-U.S. trade frictions can be the case in point. With U.S. President Donald Trump launching the war, the two countries’ technology tensions have been increasing. The U.S. has once banned American companies’ sales to Huawei, and the sales were only resumed after Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Osaka G20 summit last month.

“Developed countries have advantages in technological innovation but they need the developing countries’ market to apply their technology while developing countries need developed countries’ technology,” said Song Hefa, deputy head of the Institute of Intellectual Property at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

However, the Trump administration’s support of protectionism has restricted technological flows and innovation diffusion. What’s worse, without global competition, American companies will not be inspired to be globally competitive or truly innovative.

Trump seems to be making matters worse by meddling with talent exchange. It is reported that the visa application for Chinese students studying in the U.S. is becoming increasingly difficult. More barriers to talent flows will only make U.S. innovation harder.

Given its national policies and those of the Trump administration, China is on the track to the technological frontier. And, by the end of 2030, it will be apparent that China achieved its goal to be an “international innovation leader.”

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