'Blue ocean' of future industries awaiting exploration

Editor's note: China's central leadership has called for efforts to promote continuous breakthroughs in the development of industries of the future. In an interview with People's Daily Overseas Edition, Tu Xinquan, dean of the China Institute for World Trade Organization Studies at the University of International Business and Economics, talked about what China is doing to nurture industries of the future. Below are excerpts of the interview. The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.

China's economic growth has entered a new stage. After decades of industrialization and large-scale production, the country is now steadily building capabilities for original innovation and generating stronger demand for it.

Industries of the future represent a blue ocean that awaits exploration. In this new frontier, there are few established paths for developing new technologies and products, and promoting their application.

This presents both challenges and opportunities. A higher degree of originality usually means stronger irreplaceability and bigger profit margins. Those who take the lead in original innovation will inject more added value into their products and will have a bigger role to play in these industries.

A solid foundation in scientific research, a comprehensive industrial system and diverse market demand have combined to build a thriving ecosystem for the growth of industries of the future in China.

The scale and strength of Chinese research teams continue to stand out in the global context. China has the world's most complete industrial system, which helps transform scientists' "flashes of inspiration" into tangible products and services and roll them out nationwide.

On the demand side, the superlarge and highly diverse domestic market provides a wide range of application scenarios for innovation. Examples include autonomous driving taxis for commuters in Shenzhen and artificial intelligence-powered elderly care products for residents in Shanghai.

At the same time, for China to catch up with other countries and transform from being a high technology follower to a pacesetter, it needs to adopt a broader and global vision. Competition in industries of the future involves not only individual organizations but is a contest of innovation ecosystems. This calls for a more proactive approach to integrating into the global innovation network, building competitive strengths and contributing Chinese expertise through deeper engagement with the world.

International cooperation in science and technology is not only about complementing each other's resources, but also about building capacity. For instance, in sectors such as the digital economy, new energy and life sciences, joint research and development and laboratories co-built by Chinese and foreign companies are increasingly becoming the norm.

Through their efforts to go global, Chinese companies are also opening new avenues for international cooperation in innovation. Companies are not only testing and implementing their technologies in international markets, but also absorbing experience from around the world to upgrade China's own research and development efforts.

Through projects such as intelligent irrigation systems in farmlands in Southeast Asia and low-carbon cities in deserts in the Middle East, Chinese technologies are being adapted to local needs, rallying a broader spectrum of innovative forces.

Industries of the future, including space exploration, intelligent computing and those that empower people in their daily lives with the help of AI, are developing steadily in China. In the process, the country is working to address the common challenges that humanity faces through practical collaboration, thus ensuring that technological progress truly benefits more people.