GUANGZHOU, China – China is trying to stimulate research into so-called “frontier technology”, including quantum computing and semiconductors, as it competes with the US for supremacy in the latest innovations.
In its 14th annual development plan, Beijing said it would make “science and technology self-confidence and self-improvement a strategic pillar for national development,” according to a CNBC translation.
Premier Li Keqiang said on Friday that China will increase research and development spending by more than 7% a year between 2021 and 2025, looking for “major advances” in technology.
Chinese technology champions, such as Huawei and SMIC, have been targeted by US sanctions as tensions between Beijing and Washington have risen in recent years.
As such, China has focused on increasing its domestic expertise in areas it considers strategic, such as semiconductors. And now it has introduced seven “frontier technologies” that it will prioritize not only for the next five years, but also over.
1) Artificial Intelligence (AI)
China intends to focus on the development of specialized chips for AI applications and the development of so-called open source algorithms. Open source technology is usually developed by one entity and licensed by other companies.
Emphasis will also be placed on machine learning in areas such as decision-making. Machine learning is the development of AI programs formed on large amounts of data. The program “learns” as it is fed with more data.
AI has been a key area for Chinese companies and the central government in recent years. Major companies such as Alibaba and Baidu have invested in technology.
China and the US compete for AI dominance. A group of experts chaired by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt said that China could soon replace the US as the world’s “AI superpower”.
2) Quantum information
3) Integrated or semiconductor circuits
Semiconductors are a critical area for China and have invested heavily in recent years, but the country has struggled to catch up with the United States, Taiwan and South Korea.
The problem is the complexity of the semiconductor supply chain. TSMC in Taiwan and Samsung in South Korea are the most advanced chip makers, but rely on tools from the US and Europe.
Washington has put SMIC, China’s largest chip maker, on an export blacklist called the Entity List. SMIC cannot get its hands on American technology. The US would also be pressured to stop the Dutch company ASML from delivering a key tool that could help SMIC reach its rivals.
Because China does not have the companies that can design and manufacture the tools needed by chip manufacturers, it relies on companies from other countries. China wants to change that.
In its five-year plan, China says it will focus on research and development in integrated circuit design tools, key equipment and key materials.
Chips are extremely important because they are part of many of the devices we use, such as smartphones, but they are also important for other industries.
4) The science of the brain
China intends to investigate areas such as how to stop brain disease.
But he also says he intends to look at “brain-inspired computing,” as well as “brain-computer fusion technology,” according to a CNBC translation. The five-year plan did not detail what that might look like.
China has established seven “frontier” technologies in the 14th Five-Year Plan. These are areas that China will focus on research and include semiconductors and brain-computer fusion.
Yuichiro Chino | Moment | Getty Images
However, such work is already underway in the US at Elon Musk Neuralink. Musk is working on implantable brain-chip interfaces to connect people and computers.
5) Genomics and biotechnology
With the outbreak of coronavirus last year, biotechnology has grown more and more.
China says it will focus on “innovative vaccines” and “biosafety research.”
6) Clinical medicine and health
China’s research will focus on understanding the progress of cancer, cardiovascular, respiratory and metabolic diseases.
The government also says it will research some “state-of-the-art” treatment technologies, such as regenerative medicine. This involves a medicine that can regress or repair damaged cells, tissues and organs.
China says it will also look at key technologies in the prevention and treatment of major communicable diseases.
7) Deep space, deep earth, deep sea and polar research
Space exploration has recently been a major priority for China. Beijing has said it will focus on research into the “origin and evolution of the universe,” Mars exploration, and deep and polar research.
In December, a Chinese spacecraft returned to Earth carrying rocks from the moon. It was the first time China launched a spacecraft from an alien body and for the first time collected moon samples.
And in July, China launched a mission to Mars called Tianwen -1.
– Iris Wang from CNBC contributed to this report.