Create a "rainforest" science and technology innovation ecology
Humanoid robot shows "kung fu mode", artificial intelligence big model you chase me, chip independent research and development has a new breakthrough, the sky asked two to open "chasing stars" journey, the first electromagnetic catapult type aircraft carrier officially listed ...... Looking back at 2025, China's innovation "acceleration" is obvious to all, science and technology answer sheet is exciting.
Anchoring the strategic goal of building a scientific and technological power by 2035 and accelerating the realization of a high level of scientific and technological self-reliance, the next five years will be a critical period. Standing at a new starting point at the beginning of the "Fifteenth Five-Year Plan", we will strengthen original innovation and key core technology research, promote the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation, and promote the development of educational, scientific and technological talents as a whole ...... Policy and market synergy to cultivate an ecological rainforest for scientific and technological innovation will promote the continuous burst of innovation vitality.
The foundation of science and technology power continues to consolidate
The modernization of Chinese style should be supported by the modernization of science and technology. Looking back at the "14th Five-Year Plan", the "Tiangong" space station was transferred to normal operation, "Chang'e -6" realized the return of monthly sampling, "Haidou -1" completed the 10,000-meter sea test, 5G communication realized large-scale application, Beidou Navigation provided global precision services, the production and sales of new energy vehicles ranked first in the world, the world's first fourth-generation nuclear power plant was put into commercial operation, and the world's leading in UHV transmission and transformation, it indicates that China's scientific and technological strength is moving from quantitative accumulation to qualitative leap, from point breakthrough to system capability improvement.
Yin Hejun, Minister of science and technology, said that in the past five years, the ability of scientific and technological innovation has been steadily improved, and the foundation of a powerful country in science and technology has been continuously consolidated.
Scientific research investment continues to increase. In 2024, the whole society invested more than 3.6 trillion yuan in research and development, an increase of 48 percent over 2020; the intensity of research and development investment reached 2.68 percent, exceeding the average level of EU countries; and the total number of research and development personnel ranked first in the world.
Scientific and technological strength steadily increased. The ranking of national comprehensive innovation capacity rose from 14th in 2020 to 10th in 2024; Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macao and the Great Bay Area International Science and Technology Center support and radiation-driven role continues to increase, Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou jumped to the top of the world's top 100 innovation clusters.
The "Tenth Five-Year Plan" period is a critical period for achieving high-level scientific and technological self-reliance, building a scientific and technological power, and leading Chinese-style modernization with the support of scientific and technological modernization. It is necessary to strengthen original and leading scientific and technological research, plan ahead and lay out a number of new major national scientific and technological projects around the national strategy, strengthen organized basic research, and continuously increase the supply of high-quality science and technology. We will promote the development of scientific and technological talents in education, strengthen the collaborative education of science and education and the integration of production, teaching and research, cultivate first-class leading talents and innovative teams in major scientific and technological tasks, and build competitive advantages for talents. Continue to deepen the reform of the scientific and technological system, strengthen the coordination and linkage of national strategic scientific and technological forces, accelerate the transformation and application of major scientific and technological achievements, give full play to the source function of the international scientific and technological innovation center, improve the national scientific and technological evaluation system, and build an innovation environment that is conducive to fully releasing the vitality and potential of scientific and technological innovation.
"The next five years will be extremely challenging and promising. We will work hard, overcome difficulties, forge ahead, and make decisive progress in building a powerful country in science and technology." Yin and Jun said.
Climb the peak of science and technology to cope with global competition
In January 2025, the domestic artificial intelligence big model DeepSeek hot out of the circle, breaking the U.S. big model pile computing power, the path of capital, for the global contribution of a new low-cost, high-efficiency Chinese model, leading the open source big model competition new track, promote the artificial intelligence big model from the "elite game" into a "national dividend".
In October 2025, in the vast Gobi of Minqin, Gansu, my country completed the world's first molten salt reactor plus thorium experiment, and built the world's only operating thorium-based molten salt experimental reactor. This Chinese benchmark for the fourth-generation nuclear energy system is a major measure to strategically ensure my country's energy independence, and it is also another technological commanding height that Chinese scientists seize.
Such breakthroughs are not isolated, but are popping up more and more frequently. Chinese scientific and technological workers have bravely climbed the peak in the global scientific and technological competition, and the "stuck neck" problems have been solved one by one. Standing at the starting point of 2026, looking forward to the "Fifteenth Five-Year Plan", bravely breaking into no man's land and climbing the peak of science and technology are not only the urgent needs of global science and technology competition, but also the core path to achieve high-quality development.
From the perspective of the international situation, a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation are developing in depth, the global innovation map is reconstructed, the economic structure is reshaped, and scientific and technological competition has become the core of comprehensive national strength competition. Only by firmly grasping the initiative of scientific and technological innovation can we compete in the international competition. Occupy a favorable position.
From the perspective of domestic demand, my country's economy has shifted from a stage of rapid growth to a stage of high-quality development. The traditional development model is difficult to sustain. It is necessary to cultivate new fields, open up new lanes, and shape new advantages through technological innovation.
From the perspective of future development, the advantages of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, the advantages of the super-large-scale market, the advantages of the complete industrial system, and the advantages of abundant human resources will become more prominent, which will provide solid support and institutional guarantee for technological innovation.
Xiang Wei, deputy director of the Development Strategy and Planning Department of the National Development and Reform Commission, said that innovation has become the main engine for my country to promote high-quality development, and more fields are showing changes from quantitative change to qualitative change, from low-end to mid-to-high-end, and from chaser to leader. With the transformation of the leader, scientific and technological innovation capabilities are constantly being transformed into real productivity and national competitiveness, and contributing to global development.
Science and technology innovation industry innovation depth integration
The domestic large aircraft C919 has been in commercial operation for more than two years, breaking the duopoly pattern of Boeing and Airbus in the global large aircraft market, and has become the main engine of the development of China's aviation industry. The large aircraft cluster in the Yangtze River Delta (including Jiangxi) alone has gathered more than 1/3 of the country's large aircraft installed supporting suppliers, more than 900 enterprises related to the industrial chain, and an industrial output value of more than 100 billion yuan.
The first domestic large-scale cruise ship "Ada Mordor" has been put into busy route operation. The construction of the second domestic large-scale cruise ship "Ada Huacheng" has entered an accelerated period and is scheduled to be completed in 2026. Relying on the independent design, construction and operation of large domestic cruise ships, China's cruise industry is changing from the "passing economy" of cruise ships to a cruise industry chain ecosystem covering cruise operation, design and construction, supporting supply chain and other fields.
Promoting the integration of scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation is the key path to build a modern industrial system. Li Lecheng, Minister of the Ministry of industry and information technology, said that 2026 is the first year of the 15th Five Year Plan. It is necessary to anchor the key task of realizing new industrialization, further deepen reform in an all-round way, promote the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation, promote the deep integration of informatization and industrialization, and develop new quality productivity according to local conditions.
We will optimize the spatial layout and expand the scope of the construction of the international science and technology innovation center. The international science and technology innovation center is the core community of the innovation rainforest, which has the key role of radiation driving the overall situation. The 2025 Central Economic Work Conference will expand the scope of Beijing and Shanghai International Science and Technology Innovation Centers to Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and the Yangtze River Delta for the first time, which means that the existing three international science and technology innovation centers will form an innovation network of industrial collaboration and resource sharing with surrounding areas.
We will strengthen the dominant position of enterprises in innovation and improve the intellectual property protection system in emerging fields. Enterprises are the most active life in the innovation rainforest and the core carrier of the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation. It is necessary for enterprises to truly become the main promoters of technological needs, the leading organizers of R & D activities, and the primary applicators of innovative results.
We will deepen technological empowerment and expand applications in cutting-edge areas such as "artificial intelligence. Cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence are key variables that reshape industrial forms and generate new qualitative productivity. It is necessary to take the "artificial intelligence" action as the traction to promote the deep integration of artificial intelligence with manufacturing, agriculture, and service industries, so as to cultivate emerging industries and strengthen traditional advantageous industries.
The pointer of time has been turned to the "fifteen five". Looking ahead, challenges and opportunities coexist, pressure and power coexist. With greater determination and courage to deepen reform, focus on innovation, optimize the ecology, and recruit talents, a new China will continue to add new vitality and inject new momentum into global development. (Reporter She Huimin)
Information source: Economic Daily
