Over the last 30 years, the Chinese government's strategy has changed from "Made in China" to "Thought & Created in China". This has been made possible by the reorganization and restructuring of China's science and technology research system. Each of the players involved in research or its financing has been assigned new activities within a well-defined perimeter.
In recent years, the Chinese Academy of Sciences has metamorphosed its organization and facilities in order to create a dozen institutes of international standing. China is a structured country where the model of science and technology development is interwoven into a more global strategy that aims to make China an economic, political and technological leader...
Innovative China guided by five-year strategic plans
On the technological front, China has put in place many national plans to support and guide its development. This orientation is expressed in the framework of specific programmes, which are supported and accompanied by five-year plans defining quantified objectives for those five years.
From 1983, China set up a first plan to boost its R&D and in 1986 it prioritised seven themes considered crucial for its long-term development. In order to facilitate the integration of cutting-edge technologies into its industrial manufacturing processes, China created high-tech industrial development zones as early as 1988. To complete its research system, China has been focusing on fundamental research since 1997. The latest plan began in 2005 and is due to end in 2020 and aims to make China a leading centre for innovation.
Rise in life sciences
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With respect to life sciences, the government is largely responsible for market growth. The objective of the XI Five-Year Plan was to ensure social security for its population and has made it possible to cover 90% of the population.
This coverage has boosted drug consumption to become the third largest pharmaceutical market in the world behind the United States and Japan. In addition, to attract more and more foreign companies, China has put in place advantageous regulations for the practice of R&D and clinical trials. However, the latest studies estimate that there are only about one hundred Chinese pharmaceutical companies (i.e. 5%) active in R&D. But these regulations, which are in fact an incentive for relocating clinical trials and attracting R&D centres from foreign companies, will enable Chinese companies to gain momentum.
©Mathieu DUBLOC - LaBiotech Dec 2013
Mathieu Dubloc, is currently seeking a professional opportunity as a business intelligence monitor and analyst in the biotechnology sector.
With our thanks to LaBiotech magazine for this kind collaboration.
