Society

China's innovation drive in 'post-Shanzhai' era

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-03-11 14:18

Innovation from science

Wang Jian, the president of BGI, a bio-tech company, takes pride in his company's innovative power. "We are revolutionaries, not followers."

Now, BGI offers gene testing for the prevention and treatment of some cancers and other diseases. It is only one of the many applications for BGI researches. "In time, we can prevent most congenital diseases, improve grain production and even improve life," Wang said.

BGI is different from other companies because it focuses on scientific research. Every breakthrough in scientific research is an original innovation, he added.

Scientific research is the origin of all technological advancements, said Ma Dalong, the head of Peking University's Center for Human Disease Genomics and a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

China needs to foster a culture where scientists are more respected and better rewarded. Also, the educational system needs to be reformed. "Colleges must focus more on science, instead of applied technologies. We have enough technicians, we need more scientists," Ma said.

China's 12th five-year plan, which is set for approval by the National People's Congress, pledged to drive the economy with scientific and technological innovation.

The draft plan included some indicators of innovation capacity in China's key targets for the next five years. This would include 2.2 percent of GDP, which will be spent on research and development, as the country records 3.3 patents for every 10,000 people.

In order to sustain development in today's China, companies must be innovative and build their own products, said Xu Guanju, a CPPCC member and also the director of Transfar Group, a leading Chinese chemical company. "The times of imitation are behind us," he said.