The First Session of the 14th National People’s Congress and the First Session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (the “Two Sessions”) were held in Beijing from 4th to 13th of March. The “Government Work Report” summarizes the major achievements China has made in the past five years.
In the first year of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the decision on reorganizing the Ministry of Science and Technology and establishing the National Data Bureau at the current “Two Sessions” raised the urgency of “immediate implementation” of technology development. Many committee members and The proposals suggested by the representatives also showed the trend of ecological development in the field of technology.
The Influence Matters consultants came together to summarize the outcome of the meetings related to technology and foreign business in China.
Reorganization of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Formation of the National Data Bureau
Two important decisions were passed during the two sessions, the reorganization of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the establishment of the National Data Bureau. these approaches have highlighted the increasing urgency of scientific and technological development, focusing on breakthroughs in key areas of technology.
The reorganized Ministry of Science and Technology will focus more on functions such as top-level design and macro-coordination, and some functions related to industrial technology development will be divested. In addition, the Ministry of Science and Technology will no longer participate in the review and management of specific scientific research projects.
Professor Wang Yukai, a professor at the National School of Administration, said in an interview with the 21st Century Business Herald that the functions of the Ministry of Science and Technology after the reorganization will be more centralized, and the focus will be shifted to technological innovation and basic research and development, and will further make efforts to solve the technical problems of “stuck necks” and accelerate the speed at which China has become an innovative country.
The National Data Bureau is responsible for coordinating and promoting the construction of the basic data system, and coordinating the integration, sharing, development and utilization of data resources. Xiao Jie, State Councilor and Secretary-General of the State Council, said that data plays a fundamental role in social development, and we must strengthen the management, development, and utilization of data. In the future, the National Data Administration will also coordinate planning and construction of digital China, digital economy, and digital society.
Meng Qingguo, a professor at the School of Public Administration of Tsinghua University, said in an interview with Phoenix Satellite TV that the establishment of the National Data Bureau can greatly promote the utilization, integration and sharing of data resources. According to McKinsey’s previous report, the potential value of China’s public data resources will be as high as 10 trillion to 15 trillion yuan. Whether it is the “Twenty Measures on Data” issued before or this formation of the National Data Bureau, they are all measures to implement “using data as a key factor of production”, and the construction of digital China and the development of the digital economy are being accelerated.
Strengthening Basic Research, Cultivating Talents
At the current “Two Sessions”, some deputies to the National People’s Congress discussed the problems that China currently encounters in basic research. For example, some so-called basic research that is “facing the frontier of world science and technology” does not actually focus enough on core scientific issues. Instead, follow-up and verification research is done under the framework of others. Some application-oriented basic research does not really focus on needs, so it cannot solve practical problems; Basic research emphasizes “sharpening a sword in ten years”, the results may not be given in short period, but some basic research projects have the request of dead line.
Premier Li Keqiang of the State Council pointed out in the government work report that the government support basic research and applicational basic research, China’s investment in basic research doubled in the past five years. Strengthening basic research is an urgent requirement for achieving high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and self-improvement, and it is the only way to build a world scientific and technological power. Take policy as a foundation, management system as guideline, and talents as the key, scientists are encouraged to explore bravely, highlight originality, and expand the boundaries of knowledge and innovation.
In addition, CPPCC members frequently mentioned the introduction of talent training. Yuan Yaxiang, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, said, “One of the most important things to achieve self-reliance and self-improvement in science and technology is talent. We must really pay attention to the growth of scientific and technological talents, especially young scientific and technological talents. Their working environment and their growth atmosphere are very critical. “
Talents are the first resource. Only by concentrating talents to do practical things and unswervingly adhering to basic research can we promote continuous innovation in science and technology.
Vigorously support enterprises to become the main body of scientific and technological innovation
Minister of Science and Technology Jin Zhuanglong said that for a long time, the Ministry of Science and Technology has been actively promoting enterprises to become the main body of technological innovation, so that enterprises not only participate in the application of achievements, but participate in the whole process of technological innovation from the source. In the next step, the Ministry of Science and Technology will further increase support for enterprises to become the main body of scientific and technological innovation. All state-owned, private, large, medium, small and micro enterprises engaged in scientific and technological innovation activities will receive support from the Ministry of Science and Technology and enjoy equal rights, opportunities and rules. support.
Continue to expand high-level opening up
Premier Li Keqiang of the State Council pointed out in the government work report on the 5th that in the past five years, we have firmly expanded opening up to the outside world and deepened mutually beneficial and win-win international economic and trade cooperation. In the face of changes in the external environment, we will implement a more proactive opening-up strategy, and promote reform and development with high-level opening-up.
During the Two Sessions, delegates expressed that a more open China will further enhance the attractiveness of foreign investment and businessmen. Yang Yinkai, deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission, said that China has always been an “actionist” in implementing high-level opening up, and will encourage foreign experts to cultivate the Chinese market with a more open and inclusive attitude.
“The government work report highlights key tasks such as expanding market access, implementing national treatment for foreign-funded enterprises, and doing a good job in serving foreign-funded enterprises. This shows that China will make greater efforts in expanding opening up, promoting investment, and optimizing the environment to attract foreign investment. The accuracy and effectiveness of policies will be further improved,” said Cui Weijie, vice president and researcher of the Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation of the Ministry of Commerce.
Focusing on core technologies to promote collaborative development of Industry-University-Research (IUR)
At this year’s “Two Sessions,” multiple committee members and representatives from various industries proposed measures to promote collaborative development of industry, university, research(IUR). Industry-University-Research (IUR) refers to the close cooperation between these 3 sectors to advance scientific research, technological innovation, and industrial upgrading. This collaboration promotes the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, accelerates the application and promotion of technological progress, enhances the competitiveness and innovation of industries, and provides a broader platform for academic research.
In the field of intelligent connected vehicles, NPC member Zhang Xinghai pointed out that in addition to the shortage of talent, the structural shortage of talent, especially digital and application talent, is a more worrying concern. In the field of AI, representatives such as Zhou Hongyi, the founder of 360 Group, and Liu Qingfeng, the chairman of iFlytek, proposed that China should attach greater importance to the field of AI, establish an innovation system combining industry, academia, research, and application (IUR), and take enterprises as the core. In the field of digital transformation, NPC member Sun Zhiqiang stated that innovation should be focused on the manufacturing industry chain to meet the high-end development needs of different industries, and information technology, communication technology, and AI should be integrated to support industrial upgrading. Furthermore, it is necessary to promote the establishment of new industrial software standards and corresponding talent training mechanisms. NPC member and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering Wang Jian suggested that private enterprises should become the main force of technological innovation rather than being treated as “recipients of assistance,” allowing enterprises to drive the transformation of the industry in the process of digital transformation.
Summary
From the 14th Five-Year Plan to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, and to this year’s “Two Sessions,” topics related to technological development and digital transformation have always occupied a prominent position in the national development agenda. From the establishment of the Central Committee on Science and Technology, the reorganization of the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the establishment of national-level data measures required in this year’s “Party and State Institutional Reform Plan,” China will further utilize its institutional advantages to solve the bottleneck problem of key technologies with a sharper attitude and enhance the urgency of technological development in key areas. Judging from the proposals of committee members and representatives, China will further prefect the close cooperation among industry, university and research in multiple fields such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, automobiles, cloud computing, and data industries. Which also could be defined as to cultivate talents for technology, to iterate technologies to entry enterprises, to sell enterprises innovation results to the market, and the market provide feedbacks for talents cultivation.
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