创客文化 (chuàngkè wénhuà): Maker culture

At the executive meeting of the State Council, China's Cabinet, on Jan 28, Premier Li Keqiang pledged to establish a new platform for innovation and cultivate a "maker culture" in the country.

Maker is a term coined by the former chief editor of Wired magazine Chris Anderson, which refers to people who turn innovative ideas into creative products due to their hobbies and interests. Maker culture is an extension of the do-it-yourself culture, and combines technology, innovation and practice.

Premier Li has paid great attention to maker culture. At the first World Internet Conference last year, Li mentioned makers and emphasized that innovation creates value. Now the State Council has decided to provide supportive policies and measures to the development of a "mass maker space", which indicates the growing importance of the maker economy.

China is transitioning its development pattern so that innovation becomes a key driver of economic development, and a maker economy will be at the heart of that.