Skip to main content
Log in

China’s embrace of the market economy: understanding its innovation strategy

  • Article
  • Published:
European View

Abstract

The financial crisis now afflicting the world’s economies has Chinese leaders and citizens worried as the ripple effect from US markets aggravates already slumping Chinese markets. As the country attempts to improve its productive capabilities, enhancing China’s capacity to innovate remains a top priority. The author explores the initiatives which are being taken both within the country and abroad, illustrating how the country’s competences within the innovation, technology and research field are being reformed in order to shape China for the future.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. The author attended this speech, but a full transcript is also available through China’s official news agency, Xinhua, at http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-02/03/content_10753336_2.htm; accessed 5 February 2009.

  2. Ibid.

  3. The author visited a number of science parks and met with numerous officials and entrepreneurs in a series of meetings across China in May and September 2008.

  4. A Chinese word literally meaning ‘connections’. In practice, the phrase is often associated with the effort and utility of making and maintaining contacts in both local and national Chinese government departments and can describe the way that trust relationships are built up.

  5. The transition economies from stage one to stage two are assessed on the basis as having per capita incomes at $2,000 to $3,000, based on current exchange rates.

References

  1. Arundel A, Hollanders H (2008) Innovation scoreboards: indicators and policy use. In: Nauwelaers C, Wintjes R (eds) Innovation policy in Europe: measurement and strategy. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham

    Google Scholar 

  2. Yun-Chung C (2008) The upgrading of multinational regional innovation networks in China. In: Sun Y, von Zedtwitz M (eds) Global R&D in China. Routledge, London

    Google Scholar 

  3. China Briefing (2008a) Guangdong and Shanghai exports plummet. http://www.china-briefing.com. Accessed 10 Nov 2008

  4. China Briefing (2008b) China releases $586 billion economic stimulus plan. http://www.china-briefing.com. Accessed 10 Nov 2008

  5. Miao F, Xiaolan F, Tieli L (2008) International and intra-national technology spillovers and technology development paths in developing countries: the case of China. Research Paper 2008/96. United Nations University, UNU-WIDER

  6. Holger G, Margull R (2008) A model of an innovation system with a position regulation of science and technology parks within innovation networks. In: Carayannis E, Formica P (eds) Knowledge matters: technology, innovation and entrepreneurship in innovation networks and knowledge clusters. Palgrave, Ontario

    Google Scholar 

  7. Jakobson L (2007) China aims high in science and technology: an overview of the challenges ahead. In: Jakobson L (ed) Innovation with Chinese characteristics. Palgrave Macmillan, UK

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  8. Krishna VV, Turpin T (2007) Transition and change: innovation systems in Asia-Pacific economies. In: Turpin T, Krishna VV (eds) Science, technology and the diffusion of knowledge: understanding the dynamics of innovation systems in Asia-Pacific. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham

    Google Scholar 

  9. Kuznetsov Y (2008) Innovation systems, radical transformation, step-by-step: India in light of China. Research Paper 2008/90. United Nations University, UNU-WIDER

  10. Shuguang L, Guogang R (2007) Integrating foreign-owned firms into the global value chain: a case study of the Window Korea Project in China. In: Daniels P, Harrington J (eds) Services and economic development in Asia-Pacific. Ashgate

  11. Nauwelaers C, Wintjes R (2008) Innovation policy, innovation in policy: policy learning within and across systems and clusters. In: Nauwelaers C, Wintjes R (eds) Innovation policy in Europe: measurement and strategy. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham

    Google Scholar 

  12. NBS China (National Bureau of Statistics of China). 2008. Business climate index (third quarter). http://www.stats.gov.cn/english/statisticaldata/Quarterlydata/index.htm. Accessed 21 Nov 2008

  13. OECD (2007) Globalisation and regional economies: can OECD regions compete in global industries? Organisation for economic co-operation and development

  14. OECD (2008) Reviews of innovation policy: China. Organisation for economic co-operation and development

  15. Schuman, Michael (2008) How will China weather the financial storm? Time Magazine Online. http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1853112,00.html. Accessed 8 Nov 2008

  16. Schwab C, Porter M (2008) The global competitiveness report 2008–2009. World Economic Forum

  17. State Council (2006) Government of China, Science & technology guidelines. http://www.gov.cn/english/2006-02/09/content_183426.htm. Accessed 25 Feb 2008

  18. Steinfeld ES (2007) Innovation, integration and technology upgrading in contemporary Chinese industry. In: Polenske K (ed) The economic geography of innovation. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  19. Walsh K (2008) China R&D: a high-tech field of dreams. In: Sun Y, von Zedtwitz M (eds) Global R&D in China. Routledge, London

    Google Scholar 

  20. Zhang J (2007) The dynamics of China’s national innovation system: Resources, capabilities and linkages. In: Turpin T, Krishna VV (eds) Science, technology and the diffusion of knowledge: understanding the dynamics of innovation systems in Asia-Pacific. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Paul C. Irwin Crookes.

About this article

Cite this article

Irwin Crookes, P.C. China’s embrace of the market economy: understanding its innovation strategy. European View 8, 133–141 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12290-009-0070-1

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12290-009-0070-1

Keywords

Navigation