The Political Economy of Science, Technology, and Innovation in China
Policymaking, Funding, Talent, and Organization
Cong Cao author Yutao Sun author
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Cambridge University Press
Published:20th Jul '23
£95.00
Supplier delay - available to order, but may take longer than usual.
Demystifies the role of the Chinese state in its development of S&T and innovation using the theory of political economy.
Framed in the political economy, the book reveals the role of the Chinese state in the country's development in S&T and innovation. It appeals to scholars of business and management, innovation, and contemporary China studies as well as policymakers of emerging economies, executives interested in doing business in China.There are a variety of reasons underlying the remarkable development of science and technology (S&T), and innovation in post-1978 China. This book seeks to achieve an understanding of such development from an institutional or a political economy perspective. Departing from the literature of S&T and innovation studies that treats innovation as a market or enterprise's behavior in Schumpeter's sense, Sun and Cao argue that it involves politics, institutions, and the role of the state. In particular, they examine how the Chinese state has played its visible role in making innovation policies, allocating funding for R&D programs, making efforts to attract talent, and organizing critical S&T programs. This book appeals to scholars in S&T and innovation policy, political economy, innovation governance, and China studies as well as policymakers and business executives.
'This is a thoroughly researched, clearly structured and well-written book. Despite being mainly quantitative and privileging official sources over grassroots innovation, it benefits from unique insights gained from the authors' years of in-depth qualitative and quantitative engagement with the Chinese innovation system. Overall, this is a much-needed and timely overview of the Chinese state's intricate workings in innovation, including historical perspectives. The findings will be relevant not only for economists, political scientists, innovation scholars and practitioners from policy and business, but also for scholars and students from various fields interested in the operations and contradictions of the Chinese state, academic landscape, technology and economy more generally.' Lena Kaufmann, The China Quarterly
'This book provides a comprehensive overview of Beijing's efforts to build a world-leading science and technology (S&T) eco-system - what government ministries are involved, how policy is made and funding organized, how China is trying to attract foreign talent and generate breakthroughs through mega research and development projects. … Sun and Cao … end their investigation of the diversity, contradictions and challenges of China's S&T ecosystem with something remarkable - a passionate call for independent thinking.' Jeroen Groenewegen-Lau, MERICS China Essentials
'This is a sensible and informative account of China's largely state-dominated science, technology, and innovation systems (STI). The practical and theoretical importance of the subject is encapsulated in one of the book's findings: China's capacity for innovation is not, by and large, cutting edge, but in most respects it appears sufficient to drive economic vitality. This feature of the Chinese case is at odds with the general consensus, which holds that only cutting-edge innovation in a developed country is sufficient to drive economic growth and prosperity. Yutao Sun's and Cong Cao's account provides a wealth of practical information to help explain this apparent contradiction.' Scott Moore, The China Journal
ISBN: 9781108490580
Dimensions: 235mm x 158mm x 20mm
Weight: 530g
264 pages