Assessing China as a technological innovator

摘要

The dramatic rise of domestic patent publications by Chinese inventors has raised questions about the extent of Chinese innovations. This column uses a newly assembled dataset of Chinese patents to understand the Chinese innovative ecosystem. The data reveal an innovation system that is more broad-based, more university-centred, and less dominated by state-owned enterprises, large national champions, or US-trained returnees than many standard narratives suggest. The findings challenge preconceptions about where Chinese innovation is occurring and suggest the importance of better understanding the mechanisms behind central coordination and its impact.