“China aims to become a world technological power by 2049 and strives to be a leading nation in innovation and scientific development”. This almost prophetic announcement was made in document released by the Central Committee and the State Council last Sunday, as reported by Global Times. 2049 marks the last year of the Chinese Academy of Sciences roadmap “Science & Technology in China: A Roadmap to 2050 – Strategic General Report of the Chinese Academy of Sciences”.
The newly released document also sets the goal for the country to be “in the ranks of innovative nations” by 2020. No specifics are mentioned in the news release. It does reiterate spending targets for R&D. Spending as a part of GDP should reach 2.2% in the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-15) period, and more than 2.5 percent by 2020. R&D spending in 2011 totalled 1.83% of GDP, or 139,7 bln USD. At the same time, R&D input for large- and medium-size industrial enterprises should increase to 1.5 percent of revenue in the 12 FYP period, and for every 10,000 employees, there should be at least 43 R&D personnel each year, according to the document.