Knowledge Creation and Innovation Systems in China

Abstract

This chapter evaluates knowledge creation and innovation systems. Within this Chapter, there were three significant findings. Firstly, most of the successful invention and innovation in the Chinese economy is not taking place in the high-technology areas. However, there is some progress in innovation in the high-technology areas. Secondly, creativity in Chinese industry as measured by granted patents is accounted for by the in-house R&D activity of Chinese enterprises rather than by spending on imported technologies. Thirdly, it also came to light that whereas in the mid-90s there was almost no use of the Internet, this was not the case in the late 90s onwards. It was also shown using official Chinese statistics that the majority of Internet users in China were educated, under the age of thirty, and that Internet use was highest in Coastal China. Moreover, the Internet predominantly remains an urban phenomenon.