Core Viewpoint - China has achieved significant advancements in technology over the past decade, positioning itself among the world's leaders, driven by unique advantages in scale, institutional characteristics, and strategic determination. This trend is expected to continue and possibly accelerate [1][32]. Technological Breakthroughs - By 2025, China is expected to witness multiple global technological breakthroughs, including the "artificial sun" EAST device achieving 1 million degrees Celsius for 1066 seconds, the DeepSeek-R1 model disrupting the US AI monopoly, and BYD surpassing Tesla in electric vehicle sales with 2.257 million units [2]. Policy Evolution - Since 2009, China's global export share has surpassed Germany, leading to a focus on technological innovation for industrial upgrading, as outlined in the "12th Five-Year Plan" [4]. The "Made in China 2025" initiative was launched in 2015 to transition from a manufacturing power to a manufacturing stronghold, detailing ten key sectors for development [5][6]. Assessment of "Made in China 2025" - Evaluations indicate that China has achieved or is close to achieving a leading position in several industries, including advanced rail transportation, electric power equipment, and new energy vehicles [11]. Reports from various international think tanks highlight China's progress in these sectors [10][9]. Research Output and Quality - China's high-impact research output has surged, with a significant increase in the number of top 1% cited papers across various fields, particularly in engineering and natural sciences, where China now leads globally [21][22]. The growth in high-quality research is attributed to increased research funding, talent pool, and strategic government policies [25][26]. Infrastructure and Industrial Support - China boasts the world's largest high-speed rail and highway networks, along with a stable power system, which significantly reduces logistics and operational costs for enterprises [29][30]. This robust infrastructure supports the rapid transition of technology from research to production [30]. Future Outlook - The time required for technological breakthroughs to translate into productivity is estimated to be between 5 to 15 years, with a prediction of a surge in commercialized products based on recent research outputs in the next 5 to 10 years [33]. The continuous progress in both research and application is anticipated to maintain China's rapid advancement in technology [33].
数读中国新质生产力
经济观察报·2026-03-12 10:59