Source: Xinhua

At the start of the 15th Five-Year Plan period, China released its first half-year economic report. New growth drivers represented by high-end manufacturing, digital and intelligent economy, and modern services contributed over 40% to economic expansion. These figures send a clear signal: scientific and technological innovation is accelerating efforts to empower high-quality economic development.

In the first half of the year, the value-added of industrial enterprises above designated size nationwide rose by 5.4% year on year. Specifically, the value-added of high-tech manufacturing and digital product manufacturing increased by 13.3% and 12.3% respectively. Output of 3D printing equipment, lithium-ion batteries and industrial robots jumped by 48.5%, 39.3% and 28% respectively. The output of integrated circuits from industrial enterprises above designated size climbed 23.1%, with a daily production volume exceeding 1.5 billion chips. This set of data fully demonstrates how new technologies boost industrial advancement. In recent years, the efficiency of China’s national innovation system has improved rapidly, and its capacity to underpin high-quality economic development keeps growing. According to the Global Innovation Index 2025 released by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), China entered the world’s top 10 for the first time. The National Innovation Index Report 2025 published by the Chinese Academy of Science and Technology for Development ranks China 9th globally, marking an aggregate rise of 11 places since 2012. As scientific and technological innovation capacity continues to strengthen, the intelligent, green and integrated transformation of “Made in China” picks up speed. Industrial organizational efficiency and operational quality have improved markedly, fully leveraging China’s strengths of a large manufacturing sector with complete industrial categories, sound supporting chains and abundant application scenarios.

The service sector has also seen a rising share of innovation-driven activities. On one hand, producer services closely tied to manufacturing upgrading and digital-intelligent transformation delivered solid performance. In the first half of the year, the value-added of information transmission, software and information technology services grew by 10.7%, while that of leasing and business services rose by 11.9%, making remarkable contributions to economic growth. On the other hand, drawing on the advantages of its super-large market featuring massive scale, diverse tiers and stable structure, and keeping abreast of new shifts in residents’ consumption demand, numerous tech enterprises keep pace with the times and bring their strengths into play. They deeply embed new-generation information technologies represented by artificial intelligence into daily consumption scenarios including cultural tourism, catering, shopping, health care and fitness. Through enhanced user experience, the public can fully perceive the “human touch” of technological progress, while the service sector achieves rapid growth in both volume and quality.

Scientific and technological innovation continuously reinvigorates export momentum. Customs data show China’s goods exports hit 14.73 trillion yuan in the first half of the year, up 13.4%. Achieving double-digit growth amid headwinds is no small feat. Exports of mechanical and electrical products rose by 20.1%, accounting for 63.5% of total exports. Exports of high-tech products including optical modules, computing power equipment, AI glasses, AI translators and robotic exoskeletons reached 3.26 trillion yuan, an increase of 39%. Among them, industrial robot exports stood at 6.29 billion yuan, growing 18.6% year on year. These robots have been sold to 141 countries and regions, covering application scenarios such as security patrol, pipeline inspection, cleaning and surgical operations. This outstanding performance ultimately stems from Chinese enterprises’ world-leading technologies in green and intelligent shipbuilding as well as special engineering equipment. Today, scientific and technological innovation has become the greatest confidence for Chinese exporters. Equipped with innovative design, superior product performance, solid cost control and strong adaptability to niche markets, Chinese enterprises are going global with strong competitiveness, reshaping the export landscape. The “old three” export categories — apparel, furniture and home appliances — are undergoing accelerated transformation and upgrading. The “new three” — new energy vehicles, lithium batteries and solar photovoltaics — have consolidated their footing, while robots, artificial intelligence and innovative medicines form the “new-new three” to tap incremental overseas markets.

Scientific and technological innovation injects immense vitality into Chinese enterprises. In the first half of the year, the value-added of industrial “little giant” enterprises specializing in sophisticated, unique and innovative technologies above designated size increased by 10.4% year on year. Half of the 16 newly announced Global Lighthouse Factories by the World Economic Forum are located in China. Behind these statistics are countless Chinese enterprises striving to connect China’s innovation capacity with the global market. Before the kickoff of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, Chinese enterprises quickly developed technical solutions and integrated industrial resources. From intelligent bladders and data platforms for team training, to 3D digital human visualization solutions and trendy toy IPs, “Made by China” products were deeply integrated into the top football tournament, bringing brand-new interactive experiences to fans worldwide.

The 15th Five-Year Plan period is a critical phase in advancing Chinese modernization. Only by promoting in-depth integration of scientific and technological innovation with industrial innovation can China seize strategic initiative amid volatile global competition over future technologies and industries and forge ahead steadily on its development path.

(Source: Guangming Daily, July 31, 2026)