This lengthy study by the government of the city of Shenzhen in southern China is an example of China’s meticulous open-source research on international technology transfer institutions. The study’s authors acknowledge that Shenzhen has a weak research base and relies heavily on technology transfers to grow its tech sector. The study proposes creating an “international technology transfer center” in Shenzhen, one that focuses as much or more on tech transfers within Shenzhen and within China as it does on importing foreign technology.
The Chinese source text is available online at: http://stic.sz.gov.cn/kjfw/rkx/rkxcgsjk/201711/P020171101402729564107.pdf
An archived version of the Chinese source text is available online at: https://perma.cc/A6QV-9UWF
US $1 ≈ 6.5 Chinese Yuan Renminbi (RMB), as of April 28, 2021.
2012 Shenzhen Soft Science Research Program Project
A Study of Shenzhen’s International Technology Transfer Model and Measures to Improve It
Head of research group: Xian Xuelin
Shenzhen Institute of Information Technology
Introduction
In today’s competitive global economy, scientific and technological (S&T) innovation has become the interface between social and economic demands and knowledge producers. Society is increasingly dependent on specialized technology and new institutional forms such as technology centers, networks, incubation bases and clusters. Implementation of S&T innovation policy requires education, training, recruitment, research and development (R&D), and cooperation, which are the main factors in the development of high-tech industries. As stated in the National 12th Five-Year Plan on Science and Technology Development, we must “promote construction of international S&T cooperation bases, regional S&T cooperation centers and cooperation demonstration parks, and foster a number of intermediary service institutions engaged in international technology transfer business; and we must actively promote private international S&T exchanges and cooperation.” The trends now are integration of innovation resources through open innovation and internationalized R&D, integration into global innovation networks, and participation in global competition.
Given the structural adjustment and upgrading facing the development of Guangdong’s industrial economy, there is a greater need to promote the transfer, adaptation, development and application of technology to drive and promote transition to the high end of the industrial value chains. It is necessary to put the factors for scientific innovation first, implement industrial restructuring and a forward-looking strategic layout, and achieve a paradigm shift for new types of industries. Seen in terms of experience in international S&T cooperation, integration of S&T resources is the direction in which S&T cooperation is heading. Technology transfer in particular can guide and promote the combining of innovation achievements with industrial capital, accelerate the pace of industrialization, and promote the commercialization of innovation achievements, thereby promoting the improvement and accelerated development of the overall innovation capacity of industry and achieving the rapid rise of S&T strength. As in other parts of the world, the need for international technology transfer centers comes from economic considerations. The need to establish an international technology transfer center originates in the underutilization and limited development of S&T in the Guangdong Province region.
To build the Shenzhen International Technology Transfer Center, Shenzhen must strive to maintain its S&T edge as benchmarked against international competitors, as well as establish international S&T transfer institutions in industrial, technology and engineering fields; and it must also establish links between academic institutions and R&D centers, and between potential funding and projects based on creativity and innovation. It must demonstrate successful practices in innovation aspects within a worldwide scope, and form networks linking research centers with industry, and potential funders and with owners of creative ideas and projects.
Primary tasks of the Shenzhen International Technology Transfer Center
- Promote balance in the supply and demand of S&T innovation, based on considerations of regional cooperation and development requirements;
- Consolidate the components of the knowledge-based economy and their relationships, develop network matching and new institutional forms, develop and disseminate key technologies, and promote social and economic development;
- Raise the S&T innovation awareness of the public and private sectors;
- Implement programs for planning or drafting government S&T innovation policies, and encourage more spending on S&T innovation programs using a results-based budgeting approach; and
- Improve international cooperation on technical innovation.