The Evolution of the Chinese Policy for the Development of the High-tech Sector: from New Technologies to New Actors?

Abstract

China is facing growing geopolitical and socio-economic challenges and rising technology intensity of the Chinese economy is seen as a rational response to it. The PRC is focusing on the priority areas: microelectronics, emerging digital technologies, electric vehicles, etc. These measures increasingly correlate with other policies: supporting GDP growth (rise of output, employment, exports and domestic demand for high-tech); reducing critical vulnerabilities of the national high-tech sector from imports and sanctions; laying basis for accelerated growth. However, this has only limited potential for the innovative transformation of the Chinese economy. New approaches to the technological development are needed, also including the relations between the state and the business sector. The Chinese technology policy traditionally relies on large companies – «national champions». But due to the limited efficiency of both stateowned enterprises and private companies, in recent years fast-growing tech-intensive small and medium enterprises appeared in the focus of government support. Initially, they were used for import substitution and development of critical industrial technologies. But now these «little giants» are seen by the PRC as a means to balance the national innovation system (including new sources of «creative destruction»). However, this – as well as other policies and instruments –also has an ad-hoc nature. The PRC needs to systematize its policy and stress connections between different measures and actors. The role of the state is also questionable since it becomes more interventionist. Further formation of the NIS institutions is required.