Shifting Focus to “Root Problems” and Developing “Root Technologies”: Guangdong’s Comprehensive Innovation Efforts
Guangdong Province has consistently maintained the highest regional innovation comprehensive capacity in China for the past seven years. The “Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou” tech cluster has ranked second globally in the innovation index for five consecutive years. In 2023 alone, the province’s investment in research and development totals 480.26 billion yuan, marking the eighth consecutive year it has led the nation in total expenditure.
On October 17, Guangdong held its provincial science and technology conference, where it was revealed that in recent years, the province has focused on a comprehensive innovation chain that integrates “basic research, technology breakthroughs, results transformation, science and technology finance, and talent support.” This strategy aims to cultivate and develop a new form of productivity and accelerate high-level self-reliance in technology, bolstering economic and social development through technological innovation.
Enhancing Basic Research Capabilities
Significant progress has been made in constructing major scientific facilities in Guangdong. According to Wang Yifang, chief scientist and project manager of the Jiangmen Neutrino Experiment, “The main detection equipment is nearly complete, with all installation tasks expected to finish by the end of November. The system will begin data collection by August 2025 and is projected to operate for about 30 years.”
During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Guangdong plans to build five large scientific facilities, which will make up about one-third of the national total. Currently, the province has ten national major scientific facilities either in operation or under construction, positioning them as key enablers for the Greater Bay Area and China’s ascent in global scientific research.
Using its integrated national science center, Guangdong has been vigorously developing laboratories and major scientific platforms, significantly enhancing the conditions for basic research. The province places a high priority on both fundamental and applied research, achieving substantial original breakthroughs and elevating its overall basic research capacity to a leading position in the country.
A diversified investment system in basic research has emerged, characterized by a collaboration between government, enterprises, and society. The recently implemented “Guangdong Province Science and Technology Innovation Regulations” now mandates that at least one-third of public financial science and technology funds be allocated to basic research.
“We will continue to promote high-quality development in basic research, accelerate the construction of crucial technology infrastructure, implement the ‘Decade of Excellence’ plan, expand cooperative funding on provincial and municipal levels, and encourage more social investment in basic research,” noted Gong Guoping, Party Secretary of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Science and Technology.
Empowering Industry Through Core Technologies
In April, China’s first fully self-developed full-motion flight simulation imaging system was officially launched for commercial use, developed jointly by Tencent and Southern Airlines Group.
In Guangdong, numerous enterprises are focusing on breakthroughs in key core technologies to invigorate industry development. Achieving independence in core technologies is essential for high-level self-reliance in technology. The province aims to solve pressing issues by fostering a robust multi-layered laboratory system, enhancing independent innovation capabilities, and ensuring that innovations translate into advancements for businesses and industry.
Guangdong is actively supporting leading technology companies in spearheading significant projects, including major achievements in core software development, by promoting deep integration of industry, academia, and research.
Examples of this progress include the emergence of a domestic ecosystem around software and hardware like HarmonyOS, the launch of the first fully independent A3 laser copier in China by Benshu, and advancements in high-end surgical robots, ultrasound machines, and MRI devices that have broken international monopolies or achieved global leadership in technology.
This year, the Guangzhou-based Biological Island Laboratory unveiled China’s first field-emission transmission electron microscope with independent intellectual property rights, and its commercialization efforts are already underway. “The distinct feature of our projects is the simultaneous development and commercialization,” remarked Sun Fei, researcher at the Biological Island Laboratory’s Bio-electronic Microscopy Technology R&D Center.
The successful development of the field-emission transmission electron microscope reflects Guangdong’s relentless effort to build a robust commercialization and industrialization platform. Utilizing the Greater Bay Area National Technology Innovation Center as its main platform, Guangdong is establishing a collaborative hub focused on organized research and result transformation to meet regional industrial demands. Furthermore, the province is promoting high-level innovative research institutes to foster a development model where research equates to transformation, and transformation leads to application.
Continuous Improvement of Innovation Support Systems
In May, the National Medical Products Administration announced the approval of Evasimab injection, developed independently by Kangfang Biotech, marking a breakthrough in the global market for dual-antibody drugs in lung cancer treatment.
“The long drug development cycle necessitates robust support across the entire spectrum of new drug development. Guangdong’s comprehensive support system has significantly accelerated our drug’s pathway to market,” stated Xia Yu, founder and chairman of Kangfang Biotech.
Kangfang Biotech is a leading biopharmaceutical innovation enterprise nurtured in Guangdong, which has highlighted the province’s continued strength in the biopharmaceutical industry. As part of one of Guangdong’s twenty strategic industrial clusters, the biopharmaceutical sector remains vibrant, with the province boasting the largest number of drug and medical device manufacturing companies in China.
The biopharmaceutical and healthcare industry is not only technologically intensive but also a crucial area for developing new forms of productivity. “The Guangdong Provincial Science and Technology Department is committed to enhancing original innovation capabilities and addressing core technological challenges, leading multiple projects in key sectors that support the development of high-end medical equipment and innovative drugs,” explained Liang Qinru, Deputy Director of the Guangdong Provincial Science and Technology Department.
Beyond biopharmaceuticals, Guangdong is refining its innovation support system across all twenty strategic industrial clusters. In the realm of 5G technology, Guangdong is spearheading vertical applications in twenty key sectors to solidify its leading position in the telecommunications industry. The province is fostering a full-chain technology breakthrough in the new energy vehicle sector to establish a global competitive edge. Through technological innovation, Guangdong is leading growth in ultra-high-definition video displays, laser, and additive manufacturing, with multiple robotics and CNC machine products entering international markets.
“We will diligently advance the construction of the international science and technology innovation center for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area and enhance the province’s level of technological innovation. This will better position technology to lead the modernization of our industrial systems and accelerate the development of new forms of productivity,” Gong Guoping concluded.
