CHINA’S new found prominence in the world is not unexpected, but the country rapidly becoming a leader in technological innovation is slightly surprising.
For traditional technology enabled sectors, like oil and gas, nuclear and mining, China has lagged behind its Western counterparts in technological capability. However, it is making sure the same doesn’t happen for new, cutting-edge technologies.
Clean energy, artificial intelligence, electric and self-driving cars, automation and machine learning, have all been high on the Xi Jinping led one-party state government’s agenda.
Within the government there are five agencies responsible for developing and implementing central government policies in AI over the next five years, as per the 13th Five-Year Plan for Developing National Strategic and Emerging Industries.
Many believe that with government will and a growing consumer base, China can overtake its chief competitor, the US, as a leader in tech innovation.
In some ways, it is already doing this.
A Chinese start-up company called Yitu Tech recently walked away with the top US$25,000 prize from a US intelligence competition to see who could develop the best facial recognition technology.
Companies like Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent are all becoming technology leaders. In September 2016, Baidu – often referred to as the “Google of China” – created a US$200 million venture capital unit, Baidu Venture, to focus on investing in early-stage artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR).
Furthermore, China is the world’s second-largest investor in AI after the US, but could soon overtake America as the Trump administration looks to scale back investment in AI. It recently called for cutting AI research at the National Science Foundation by 10 percent, to a mere US$175 million. Goldman Sachs says it believes more funding from China will be poured into AI.
China’s move to corner key technological markets, hasn’t gone unnoticed.
“China may be a top down government but they are taking on some of the big challenges”, said Hillary Clinton speaking in London in October.
“They are going to be the largest producer of solar panels, they are going after electric cars and they are doing it because they think they are going to lift up are their country, boost wages and make them a big technological power.”
Heidi Vella 