China is in the midst of transitioning from a manufacturing-based
economy to one driven by innovation and knowledge. This up-to-date
analysis evaluates China's state-led approach to science and technology,
and its successes and failures.
In recent decades, China has seen huge investments in high-tech science
parks, a surge in home-grown top-ranked global companies, and a
significant increase in scientific publications and patents. Helped by
state policies and a flexible business culture, the country has been
able to leapfrog its way to a more globally competitive position.
However, the authors argue that this approach might not yield the same
level of progress going forward if China does not address serious
institutional, organizational, and cultural obstacles. While not
impossible, this task may well prove to be more difficult for the
Chinese Communist Party than the challenges that China has faced in the
past.