As China’s catch-up era ends, what’s standing in the way of tech innovation?

As China's period of rapid catch-up growth concludes, experts warn that significant challenges within its research culture and institutional incentives could impede the nation's aspirations to become a global leader in scientific innovation.

During a recent dialogue at the Shanghai Academy of Natural Sciences (SANS), leading scholars discussed these hurdles with Kevin Kelly, founding executive editor of Wired magazine. Lu Bai, president of SANS and a neurobiologist, noted that while China has effectively leveraged Western scientific advancements for decades, this model of replication is becoming less viable. "The path is narrowing for two reasons: first, resistance from the external environment is growing; second, China has reached a stage where there’s not much left to simply replicate," Lu stated, according to a transcript published by The Intellectual.

Lu identified China’s rigid institutional system as a primary obstacle. This system tends to prioritize quantifiable metrics over genuine creativity and fosters an ingrained deference to authority. These factors, scholars believe, are slowing the country's momentum in technological and scientific development.

Established in 2024, SANS operates as an independent, non-profit institute supported by the Shanghai government. It aims to provide scientists with stable, long-term backing and is part of Shanghai's initiative to foster basic research within its pilot zone. However, the broader challenges within China's innovation ecosystem remain a significant concern.

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The path is narrowing for two reasons: first, resistance from the external environment is growing; second, China has reached a stage where there’s not much left to simply replicate.