【Science and Technology Perspective】Cultivate and develop new quality productivity with scientific and technological innovation

Last year, General Secretary Xi Jinping put forward the important concept of "new quality productivity" during his local inspection. Since the beginning of this year, General Secretary Xi Jinping has made in-depth expositions and clear requirements for the development of new productive forces when presiding over the 11th collective study of the Political Bureau of the 20th CPC Central Committee and participating in the deliberations of the Jiangsu delegation at the second session of the 14th National People's Congress. Recently, General Secretary Xi Jinping presided over a symposium on promoting the rise of the central region in the new era, emphasizing that "we must lead industrial innovation with scientific and technological innovation, and actively cultivate and develop new quality productivity", and pointed out that "scientific and technological innovation is the core element of the development of new quality productivity" during his inspection in Hunan. It is necessary to make greater efforts to lead industrial innovation with scientific and technological innovation." We must adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech, insist on leading industrial innovation with scientific and technological innovation, and actively cultivate and develop new productive forces.

Scientific and technological innovation is the core element in the development of new quality productive forces

The new quality of productive forces is a qualitative state of advanced productive forces with scientific and technological innovation as the engine and the leap of laborers, labor materials, labor objects, and their optimal combinations as the basic connotation, which not only follows the general law of the development of the productive forces, but also conforms to the new characteristics and new requirements of the new development stage of the mainland, and is the product of the combination of the Marxist theory of productive forces and the development practice of contemporary China. General Secretary Xi Jinping's important assertion that scientific and technological innovation is the core element of the development of new quality productive forces has further enriched and developed the Marxist theory of productive forces.

It has opened up a new realm in the Marxist theory of productive forces. Marxism attaches great importance to the emancipation and development of the productive forces. Marx linked science and technology with the development of productive forces earlier, pointing out that "the productive forces of labor are constantly developing along with the continuous progress of science and technology." By examining the great leap in productivity brought about by the development of machine industry, Marx further proposed that "science is also included in the productive forces". These expositions of Marx have revealed the basic logic and powerful engine role of science and technology in promoting the development of productive forces, and expounded that science and technology will continue to penetrate into all elements of productive forces and their interaction processes, promote the reform of the mode of production, and realize the leapfrog development of productive forces. On the basis of inheriting the basic tenets of the Marxist theory of productive forces, the new quality productive forces have placed more emphasis on the driving role of scientific and technological innovation, especially original and subversive scientific and technological innovations, in the development of productive forces, and have opened up a new realm of Marxist theory of productive forces.

It has pointed out the powerful driving force for socialist emancipation and development of productive forces. The emancipation and development of the productive forces is the essential requirement of socialism. Our party has always attached great importance to promoting the development of productive forces through scientific and technological innovation. At the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Comrade Mao Zedong expounded the status and role of science and technology in socialist construction, stressing that "without science and technology, the productive forces cannot be improved." After the reform and opening up, Comrade Deng Xiaoping put forward: "Science and technology are the primary productive forces." Comrade Jiang Zemin stressed: "Scientific and technological innovation has increasingly become an important foundation and symbol for the emancipation and development of the productive forces in today's society. Comrade Hu Jintao pointed out: "Scientific and technological innovation is a strategic support for improving social productive forces and comprehensive national strength." Since the beginning of the new era, General Secretary Xi Jinping has proposed to "accelerate the development of new quality productivity", and summarized and summarized the characteristics, basic connotation, and core symbols of new quality productivity, raising our party's understanding of the theory of productivity to a new height, and providing a fundamental basis for us to further liberate and develop productivity and promote high-quality development on the new journey.

The basic path of seizing the opportunities of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation has been clarified. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Historical experience shows that those countries that seize the opportunity of the scientific and technological revolution to move towards modernization are all countries with a strong scientific foundation, and those countries that seize the opportunity of the scientific and technological revolution to become a world power are all countries that are in the leading ranks in important scientific and technological fields. "At present, a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation is reshaping the global innovation map and reshaping the international competition pattern. Scientific and technological innovation can give birth to new industries, new models and new kinetic energy, and is the core element of the development of new quality productive forces. The CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core has deeply implemented the innovation-driven development strategy, emphasizing the need to "accelerate the realization of high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and self-reliance, fight the battle of key core technologies, make original and disruptive scientific and technological innovation achievements emerge one after another, and cultivate new momentum for the development of new quality productivity". This has clarified the basic path for us to seize the opportunity to shape new momentum for development, and then win with excellence and quality in the fierce international competition.

The development of new productive forces on the mainland has a solid foundation for scientific and technological innovation

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, our party has insisted on putting scientific and technological innovation at the core of the overall development of the country, and the mainland's scientific and technological undertakings have achieved historical, holistic and pattern-oriented major changes.

The ability to innovate in science and technology has been significantly enhanced. Science and technology are the foundation of a country's prosperity, and innovation is the soul of national progress. Since the beginning of the new era, the mainland's investment in scientific and technological innovation has increased significantly, and scientific and technological innovation talents have continued to emerge, promoting the strength of scientific and technological innovation to a new level. In 2023, the R&D investment of the whole society will exceed 3.3 trillion yuan, 3.2 times that of 2012, ranking second in the world. At present, the total number of human resources in the mainland has reached 220 million, an increase of about 100 million over 2012. In 2022, the full-time equivalent of R&D personnel will reach 6.354 million person-years, nearly doubling from 2012 and ranking first in the world. Thanks to the substantial increase in investment in scientific and technological innovation and human resources, the mainland's scientific and technological innovation capabilities have been significantly enhanced, and it has entered the ranks of innovative countries, ranking 12th in the global innovation index in 2023, laying a solid foundation for accelerating the cultivation and development of new quality productivity.

The quantity and quality of scientific and technological innovation achievements have risen. The continuous generation of scientific and technological innovation achievements and their transformation into real productive forces play an important role in accelerating the cultivation and development of new quality productive forces. Since the beginning of the new era, the mainland's scientific and technological innovation has leapfrogged and climbed, and high-level innovation achievements have emerged. On the one hand, scientific and technological innovation achievements continue to accumulate in quantity. In 2023, the mainland granted 921,000 invention patents, 4.2 times that of 2012, 4.991 million valid invention patents, 5.7 times that of 2012, and 950,000 technology contracts, 3.4 times that of 2012. On the other hand, scientific and technological innovation achievements continue to make breakthroughs in quality, 5G network, high-speed railway and other technologies are world-leading, "China Chip", "Intelligent Manufacturing", "Future Car", "Data Port" and other hard-core technologies have accelerated their development, and deep-sea, deep-space, deep-earth, deep blue and other fields have seized a number of scientific and technological commanding heights. The successful test run of the high-speed maglev test vehicle, the commercial operation of the domestic C919 large aircraft, the large-scale application of 5G mobile communication technology, and the deep integration of the digital economy and the real economy have become a vivid embodiment of the industrialization of the mainland's scientific and technological innovation achievements, fully demonstrating the vitality and vitality of the mainland to accelerate the formation of new quality productivity.

The scientific and technological innovation ecosystem continues to be optimized. A good scientific and technological innovation ecology can effectively stimulate innovation potential and provide a solid guarantee for accelerating the cultivation and development of new quality productivity. Since the beginning of the new era, the mainland has comprehensively deepened the reform of the scientific and technological system, improved the new national system, strengthened the national strategic scientific and technological strength, focused on solving the problem of "bottlenecks" in key core technologies, improved the resilience of industrial and supply chains, and strived to firmly grasp the initiative of development in its own hands. In terms of scientific research organization and management, efforts have been made to optimize and adjust the organization and implementation mechanism of major scientific and technological tasks, and create new mechanisms such as "unveiling the leader" and "horse racing" to promote the effective improvement of the efficiency of the allocation of scientific and technological resources. In terms of the construction of the scientific research evaluation system, we will implement the linkage reform of the "three evaluations" of scientific research project evaluation, scientific and technological talent evaluation, and scientific research institution evaluation, implement the action of reducing the burden on scientific research personnel, and resolutely eliminate the "four only" tendencies. In terms of the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, the rights and obligations, distribution methods, and safeguard measures for the transformation of scientific and technological achievements should be clarified, and efforts should be made to break down the institutional and institutional obstacles to the transformation of scientific and technological achievements into real productive forces. These important measures have promoted the continuous improvement of the mainland's scientific and technological innovation ecology and provided a strong guarantee for accelerating the formation of new quality productive forces.

With scientific and technological innovation, we will continue to provide new momentum for the development of new quality productivity

Those who strive are the first, and those who innovate are strong. Driving productivity to an advanced quality state with scientific and technological innovation, and cultivating and developing new quality productivity are the internal requirements and important focus of promoting high-quality development. We must implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's important exposition on the development of new quality productivity, adhere to the guidance of scientific and technological innovation, open up new fields and new tracks for development with original and disruptive technological innovation, shape new momentum and new advantages for development, and accelerate the cultivation and development of new quality productivity.

Accelerate innovation in digital technology. Digital technology is the first opportunity of the world's scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, and it is also an important engine to drive the leap in productivity. To accelerate the development of new quality productivity, it is necessary to grasp the "bull's nose" of independent innovation in key digital core technologies, improve the basic research and development capabilities of digital technology, continuously improve the level of original technology, and do a good job in tackling key core technologies. It is necessary to strengthen the first breakthrough in digital technology and provide advanced elements, tools and means for a wider range of original and disruptive scientific and technological innovation. Give full play to the advantages of the new national system and form a strong synergy to promote digital technology innovation. Intensify cross-field cooperation in basic research on digital technology, and promote cross-border integration and innovative application of digital technology.

Accelerate research on green and low-carbon technologies. New quality productivity is itself green productivity. Accelerating the research of green and low-carbon technologies and promoting the low-carbon transformation of energy-intensive industries is conducive to accelerating the cultivation and development of new quality productivity. It is necessary to accelerate the promotion and application of advanced green technologies, vigorously develop green and low-carbon industries, build green supply chains, and create a green and low-carbon circular economic system. We will increase policy guidance for green and low-carbon technology research and development, and promote breakthroughs in green and low-carbon technology innovation in key areas and key links. Enrich the policy toolbox to support green and low-carbon technology research and development, optimize the transformation process of green and low-carbon scientific and technological achievements, and improve the enthusiasm of enterprises to carry out green technology innovation. Increase financial support for the research and development of green and low-carbon technologies, guide more social capital to flow to green and low-carbon projects and enterprises, and do a good job in green finance.

Promote the integrated development of the industrial chain innovation chain. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that "more attention should be paid to the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation". The integrated development of the industrial chain innovation chain is not only conducive to opening up the channel between basic research and applied research, realizing the extension of innovation from "point" to "chain", but also helping to apply scientific and technological innovation achievements to specific industries and industrial chains in a timely manner, and improve the speed and efficiency of developing new quality productivity. It is necessary to make full use of the new generation of information technology, promote the deep integration of digital technology and the real economy, based on the foundation of the real economy, expand and strengthen the advanced manufacturing industry, actively promote new industrialization, transform and upgrade traditional industries, cultivate and expand emerging industries, advance the layout and construction of future industries, and accelerate the construction of a modern industrial system supported by advanced manufacturing. Strengthen the main position of enterprise innovation, build an innovation consortium with close cooperation between upstream and downstream, promote the integration and innovation of industry, education and research, and accelerate the transformation of scientific and technological achievements into real productivity.

Deepen the reform of the scientific and technological system. Deepening the reform of the S&T system is conducive to breaking down the institutional and institutional obstacles that hinder the development of new productive forces, fully mobilizing the enthusiasm of all subjects and elements, and stimulating the huge potential of science and technology as the primary productive force to the greatest extent. It is necessary to deepen the reform of "delegating power, delegating power, delegating power, and providing services" in the field of science and technology, and constantly innovate scientific research management mechanisms and models that are conducive to stimulating the creativity of scientific and technological personnel. Deepen the reform of the establishment of scientific and technological projects and the organization and management methods, and vigorously promote the mechanism of "unveiling the leader" and "horse racing" for innovative research. Deepen the reform of the evaluation system for scientific and technological innovation talents, and create a good atmosphere conducive to the research of innovative talents.

Strengthen the introduction and cultivation of innovative talents. Talent is the most active and positive factor in scientific and technological innovation activities, and is an important resource for the development of new quality productive forces. It is necessary to focus on strengthening the independent cultivation of innovative talents, optimize the discipline setting and talent training mode of institutions of higher learning in accordance with the trend of scientific and technological development, and strive to create batch after batch of localized high-level innovative talents. Improve the introduction of overseas innovative talents, increase the introduction of overseas high-level innovative talents with a more open talent policy, and gather more talent resources for the cultivation and development of new quality productivity.

Author: Huang Maoxing, Fujian Xi Jinping Research Center for Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era

This article was originally published in the April 3, 2024 issue of People's Daily

Source: WeChat public account "Innovation Research"