Firmly innovate to drive development and accelerate the construction of an innovative country

　　In the report of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Supreme Leader emphasized that innovation is the first driving force for development and the strategic support for building a modern economic system. In accordance with the decision-making arrangements of the CPC Central Committee, it is of great and far-reaching significance to take accelerating the construction of an innovative country as the overall strategic measure of modernization, firmly implement the innovation-driven development strategy, strengthen the position and role of innovation as the first driving force, and highlight the leading role of scientific and technological innovation in all-round innovation.

　　Deeply understand the great significance of accelerating the construction of an innovative country

　　The main symbol of an innovative country is that science and technology and talents have become the most important strategic resources for a strong national strength. The improvement of labor productivity and social productivity mainly depends on scientific and technological progress and comprehensive innovation. It has a number of world-class scientific research institutions, research universities and innovative enterprises, and the innovative legal system environment, market environment and cultural environment are excellent. The essence of an innovative country is to rely on innovation activities to promote economic development and improve competitiveness, and its measurement indicators are mainly reflected in innovation resources, knowledge creation, enterprise innovation, innovation performance, innovation environment and so on.

　　Accelerating the construction of an innovative country is an inherent requirement for China to move towards a modern power. Science and technology are the sharp weapon of the country, and all the modern powers in the world are innovation powers and science and technology powers. The strategic goal of building an innovative country in China is to enter the ranks of innovative countries by 2020, to be in the forefront of innovative countries by 2035, and to become a world science and technology power by the centenary of the founding of New China. At present, China’s development has reached a new historical starting point and is moving from a developing country to a modern power. If we can’t win in the field of innovation, we can’t grasp the opportunities and advantages of global competition, and we will lose support in moving towards a modern power. We must speed up the construction of an innovative country, highlight the improvement of scientific and technological innovation ability, and support a modern power with a strong country of science and technology.

　　Accelerating the construction of an innovative country is an inevitable choice to solve the main social contradictions in the new era in China. At present, the main contradiction in our society has been transformed into the contradiction between the people’s growing need for a better life and the unbalanced development. In particular, economic development is big but not strong, big but not excellent, the driving force of factors is obviously weakened, and new kinetic energy has not been fully connected. The demand for scientific and technological innovation in economic and social development has never been as urgent as it is today. Only by speeding up the construction of an innovative country and fully practicing the development concept of innovation, coordination, green, openness and sharing in the whole process of economic and social development can we accelerate the transformation to connotative development mainly relying on knowledge accumulation, technological progress and the improvement of labor quality, realize a fundamental change in the endogenous motivation and vitality of China’s development, and open up a broader space for solving major social contradictions.

　　Accelerating the construction of an innovative country is a strategic measure to seize the historical opportunity of the new scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation. At present, a new round of global scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation is gestating, especially information technology, biotechnology, manufacturing technology, etc., which have widely penetrated into various fields, and led to major group technological changes characterized by green, intelligence and ubiquity. The pace of integration of next-generation information technologies such as big data, cloud computing and mobile Internet with robots and intelligent manufacturing technologies is accelerating, which is triggering a major adjustment of international industrial division of labor, thus reshaping the world competition pattern and changing the balance of national power. China is faced with a rare historical opportunity to catch up and leapfrog, but also a severe challenge to widen the gap. Only by accelerating the construction of an innovative country, comprehensively enhancing the ability of scientific and technological innovation, and striving to achieve leapfrog development in important scientific and technological fields can we win the strategic initiative in the new round of global competition.

　　Firmly implement the strategy of innovation-driven development

　　The innovation-driven development strategy is related to the overall situation of China’s economic and social development. The report of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China puts forward the strategy of firmly implementing innovation-driven development, which shows that our party regards the implementation of this strategy as a major and long-term task and puts it at the core of the overall development of the country.

　　Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, China has made remarkable achievements in implementing the innovation-driven development strategy. The contribution rate of scientific and technological progress to economic growth has increased from 52.2% in 2012 to 56.2% in 2016, which has effectively promoted industrial transformation and upgrading. Breakthroughs have been made in the industrialization of major scientific and technological achievements such as high-speed railways, hydropower equipment, UHV power transmission and transformation, hybrid rice, Earth observation satellites, Beidou navigation, electric vehicles, etc. Some industries are at the forefront of the world, continuously improving the quality and efficiency of China’s economic development and expanding the new space for China’s development.

　　To implement the innovation-driven development strategy, it is necessary to highlight the supporting and leading role of scientific and technological innovation in supply-side structural reform and fostering new kinetic energy for development. First, promote the innovation of industrial technology system around the new generation information network, intelligent green manufacturing, modern agriculture, modern energy and other fields, pay attention to the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries with new technologies and new formats, and lead the development of emerging industrial clusters with the support of technological breakthroughs. The second is to promote the integration of technological innovation, management innovation and business model innovation, expand emerging service industries such as digital consumption, e-commerce, modern logistics and internet finance, and vigorously develop digital economy, platform economy, sharing economy and intelligent economy. The third is to vigorously promote innovation and entrepreneurship, establish a number of low-cost, convenient and open creative spaces and virtual innovation communities, and incubate and cultivate innovative small and micro enterprises with "specialization and novelty". Fourth, create new economic growth points, growth zones and growth poles, deepen the construction of globally influential scientific and technological innovation centers in Beijing and Shanghai, accelerate the coordinated innovation of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Yangtze River Economic Belt and the eastern and western regions, strengthen the radiation-driven role of national independent innovation demonstration zones and national high-tech zones, and build a number of innovative cities and regional innovation centers with strong driving effects.

　　Promoting new breakthroughs in key areas of scientific and technological innovation around "three orientations"

　　Facing the forefront of world science and technology, facing the main battlefield of economy and facing the major needs of the country is the main strategic direction of China’s scientific and technological innovation. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the forward-looking layout and systematic promotion of the "Three Orientations" have been significantly strengthened, and breakthroughs in scientific and technological innovation have been significantly accelerated. Benchmarking the forefront of international science and technology, China has achieved a large number of major original achievements in basic research and applied basic research fields such as quantum communication and computer, high temperature superconductivity and neutrino oscillation, and its international influence has been greatly enhanced. Facing the main battlefield of economy, a series of major technical and engineering breakthroughs have been achieved in major national science and technology projects, and the mobile communication field has developed by leaps and bounds from "2G following", "3G breakthrough", "4G parallel" to "5G leading", and the C919 large passenger plane made its first flight successfully. Focusing on the major needs of national development, China has achieved a number of landmark major scientific and technological innovations with international influence in strategic areas such as deep space, deep sea, deep ground and deep blue, such as manned spaceflight and lunar exploration, manned deep diving, deep drilling and supercomputing.

　　At the same time, we should also see that basic research in China is still weak. Original technology and subversive technology are relatively insufficient, and key core technologies in many fields are subject to people. It is necessary to integrate scientific and technological resources more effectively and accelerate breakthroughs. First, strengthen basic research and applied basic research, and strengthen the source reserve of new ideas, methods, principles and knowledge. Second, focus on major national science and technology projects, organize Industry-University-Research to jointly tackle key problems, and break through a number of key common technologies in the fields of information, biology, new energy, new materials and artificial intelligence. The third is to launch "Science and Technology Innovation 2030— Major projects ",increase efforts in the fields of space, ocean, network, materials, energy and health, and break through and master a number of original and subversive technologies. The fourth is to promote modern engineering technology research and demonstration application, and strengthen technology development and integration, equipment development and large-scale application for marine engineering, heavy equipment, transportation, power grid, modern agriculture and other fields.

　　Strengthen the construction of national innovation system

　　National innovation system is the basis of determining the level of national development, strategic scientific and technological forces are the backbone of national innovation system, and international competition is largely the competition of scientific and technological innovation capability systems.

　　Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the construction of China’s scientific and technological innovation capability system has reached a new level. The construction of scientific and technological innovation bases has been accelerated, the comprehensive national science center has been promoted as a whole, and breakthroughs have been made in the construction of large-scale scientific research infrastructure. Major scientific and technological facilities such as the world’s largest spherical radio telescope (FAST) with a diameter of 500 meters and the super-large hypersonic shock wind tunnel will be built, and innovative platforms such as the State Key Laboratory will be laid out. At the same time, we will promote the open sharing of science and technology infrastructure platforms, and bring 58 major scientific research infrastructures and 58,000 sets of large scientific research instruments into a unified national network management platform. A number of large-scale comprehensive scientific research institutions have greatly improved their research capabilities and moved forward in international rankings. The technological innovation capability of enterprises has been further enhanced. In 2016, enterprises accounted for more than 77.5% of the R&D expenditure of the whole society, and a number of internationally influential scientific and technological innovative enterprises emerged.

　　At present, in the face of the requirements of building a world science and technology power, we must vigorously strengthen the capacity building of the national innovation system and systematically build China’s strategic scientific and technological strength. First, lay out national laboratories in major innovation fields and build a strategic scientific and technological innovation base that reflects the will of the country and has a world-class level. Second, focus on energy, life, particle physics and other fields to build a number of major scientific and technological infrastructures, and accelerate the construction of three comprehensive science centers in Zhangjiang, Shanghai, Hefei, Anhui and Huairou, Beijing. The third is to optimize and integrate the layout of national scientific research bases and platforms, and make layout around the national strategy and innovation chain to promote the open sharing of scientific and technological resources. Fourth, according to the requirements of enterprise-oriented, market-oriented and Industry-University-Research’s deep integration, we will promote technological innovation, build a number of national technological innovation centers to lead enterprise innovation and industrial development, support a large number of small and medium-sized enterprises to enhance their innovation capabilities, and cultivate a number of innovative leading enterprises with outstanding core technological capabilities and strong integrated innovation capabilities. The national innovation system we are building is open, not closed. We should improve the internationalization level of scientific and technological innovation in all directions, build a "Belt and Road" collaborative innovation community, and actively take the lead or participate in international major scientific plans and projects.

　　Building a team of high-end scientific and technological innovation talents

　　Innovation drive is essentially talent drive, and comprehensive national strength competition is talent competition in the final analysis. Whoever has the advantage of talent will have the advantage of innovation strength.

　　There are still some problems in innovative scientific and technological talents in China, such as outstanding structural contradictions, lack of world-class scientific and technological masters, shortage of leading talents and top talents, and disconnection between engineering and technical personnel training and production and innovation practice. Therefore, the report of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China proposed to cultivate a large number of strategic scientific and technological talents, leading scientific and technological talents, young scientific and technological talents and high-level innovative teams with international standards. We should take this deployment as a priority task in implementing the innovation-driven development strategy and pay close attention to it. First, promote the strategic adjustment of the structure of innovative scientific and technological talents, strengthen the construction of high-end scientific and technological innovative talents, highlight the orientation of "high precision and sharp lack", and strengthen the selection and training of strategic scientific and technological talents, leading scientific and technological talents and high-level innovative teams. Second, aim at the world’s scientific and technological frontiers and strategic emerging industries, support and train young and middle-aged leading talents with development potential, and open up special support channels for young talents. The third is to cultivate a large number of entrepreneurial talents with global strategic vision, innovation ability and social responsibility, and protect entrepreneurs’ innovation income and property rights according to law. Fourth, continue to increase the introduction of overseas high-level talents, introduce high-level innovative talents such as chief scientists to the world, and achieve accurate introduction. Fifth, vigorously promote innovation education, enhance the innovation consciousness and ability of the whole society, and create a team of innovative and entrepreneurial talents with large scale, innovative spirit and dare to take risks.

　　Deepen the reform of science and technology system

　　To build an innovative country, we must adhere to the two-wheel drive of scientific and technological innovation and institutional innovation. Only when the two wheels work in harmony can the new engine driven by innovation be started at full speed.

　　The report of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China proposed to deepen the reform of the scientific and technological system, and we should work hard on the strength and methods of implementation. First, improve the inclusive policy system to support enterprise innovation, and increase the implementation of policies such as R&D expenses plus deduction, tax incentives for high-tech enterprises, and accelerated depreciation of fixed assets. The second is to promote the reform of project evaluation, talent evaluation and institutional evaluation to stimulate the enthusiasm of scientific and technological personnel. The third is to improve the national technology transfer system, cultivate a number of national technology transfer institutions with high professional level and strong service ability, establish and improve regional and industrial technology markets, and build a technology transfer network connecting innovative resources such as technology, capital and talents at home and abroad. The fourth is to strengthen the creation, protection and application of intellectual property rights, deepen the reform of rights management of scientific and technological achievements, improve the incentive evaluation system for the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, and strengthen the legal protection of intellectual property rights in innovative countries. The fifth is to create a fair, open and transparent market environment, establish a government procurement system in line with international rules, and expand the market space for innovative products and services.

　　Wang zhigang