By ZHONG Jianli

China's comprehensive sci-tech innovation capacity soared in 2023, showing a meteoric rise since 2012. That's according to the China Regional Science and Technology Innovation Evaluation Report 2023 recently published by the Chinese Academy of Science and Technology for Development (CASTED), showing a score of 77.13 points in 2023 and marking 16.85 points increase since 2012.

The report showcases a further rise in China's comprehensive sci-tech innovation capacity, a significant increase in the output of sci-tech activities and the development of high-tech industrialization, along with a sustained improvement in the environment for sci-tech innovation.

Through evaluating the comprehensive sci-tech innovation levels of 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities (not including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan), the report analyzed the development trends of sci-tech innovation in each region from the perspectives of sci-tech innovation environment, input and output of sci-tech activities, high-tech industrialization, and contribution of sci-tech to economic and social development.

"Shanghai, Beijing, Guangdong, Tianjin, Jiangsu and Zhejiang lead the nation in comprehensive sci-tech innovation capacity," said Xuan Zhaohui, director of the Institute of Science and Technology Foresight and Statistics at CASTED, adding that the comprehensive strength of technological innovation in regions such as Anhui and Hubei has shown rapid improvement, further demonstrating the effectiveness of regional collaborative innovation.

A drone image of the Zhangjiang Science City in Pudong New Area of Shanghai. (PHOTO: XINHUA)

The report also revealed the development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei collaborative innovation community has accelerated. According to the report, Beijing ranked 2nd in comprehensive sci-tech innovation, Tianjin 4th, and Hebei 21st. The posture of research being done in Beijing and Tianjin while transformation of research results being carried out in Hebei has been accelerated.

Meanwhile, building of the Yangtze River Delta Sci-Tech Innovation Cluster has steadily advanced. Shanghai maintained its top position according to the report, with Jiangsu and Zhejiang following at 5th and 6th place, respectively.

"The Yangtze River Delta has become the most competitive regional sci-tech cluster," said Xuan. He highlighted that this region's 13 indicators in R&D activities, total number of R&D personnel, enterprise R&D personnel and local financial expenditure on sci-tech innovation all accounted for over 30 percent of the national total, while its international technology transfer income constituted nearly 50 percent of the national total.

In addition, the innovation strength along the Yangtze River Economic Belt has increased. Regions along this belt have established 10 national demonstration zones for original innovation, with sci-tech innovation levels in the 11 provinces and municipalities continuously advancing.

With the implementation of the ecological protection and high-quality development strategy of the Yellow River basin, nine provinces and regions in this area have continually increased their input in technological innovation, in the process providing new engines for economic development.