| Publication |
2012.
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| Summary/Abstract |
This article examines China's innovation strategy as a key part of its economic development policy to achieve the next stage of the country's domestic market modernization. The news that China now possesses the world's fastest supercomputer appears to confirm the country's inexorable journey from the world's manufacturer and assembly hub to leading global innovator. However, this article presents an examination of broader-based innovation metrics which casts a different light on China's position, showing that much work still remains to be done in order to lift domestic innovative activity to world-class levels. The country is certainly a challenger, but does not yet appear to have become a leader. The article draws on the latest research data of China's innovative capabilities and links these to empirical assessments of the country's information and communications technology sector to illustrate current strengths and weaknesses. In conclusion, it is argued that key inhibitors remain in the context of creating commercially sustainable competitive advantage in science and technology, and that the strengthening of moves towards nationalist innovation strategies may be counterproductive as China embarks on a critical phase of its engagement with the global research and development community.
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