China has reiterated its commitment to accelerating indigenous scientific breakthroughs by mobilizing the nation’s resources, emphasizing the imperative of achieving self-sufficiency across various domains, including AI and chip manufacturing, in a bid to challenge US technological dominance.
Emphasizing a long-standing objective to loosen the American grip on critical sectors, Beijing outlined plans in government reports presented to the nation’s legislature. The central government announced a 10% increase in spending on scientific and technological research, reaching 370.8 billion yuan ($51.5 billion) for 2024. These reports, scrutinized for insights into President Xi Jinping’s agenda, underscored the promotion of national champions and the pivotal role of enterprises in driving technological advancements.
In alignment with these goals, Beijing is prioritizing emerging industries like quantum computing and continues its pursuit of technological self-reliance. Efforts will intensify in areas such as big data and artificial intelligence (AI), with the launch of an AI-plus initiative and the implementation of major science and technology programs aimed at achieving strategic and industrial development objectives.
China’s quest for technological independence has been catalyzed by trade tensions with the US, which have led to restrictions on chip exports and other components to China. The nation aims to bolster national security and economic resilience by fostering domestic innovation capabilities and reducing reliance on foreign suppliers. The government’s role in directing resources towards this end has been increasingly emphasized.
In recent times, the ruling Communist Party has been granted greater authority in formulating tech-related policies as part of broader government restructuring efforts. Additionally, China plans to cultivate more top-tier scientists and innovation teams while enhancing mechanisms for identifying and nurturing talent.
Quantum computing, heralded as the next frontier in computational technology, promises to revolutionize various sectors, including industrial materials, medicine, and artificial intelligence (AI). This cutting-edge technology also poses a significant challenge to internet encryption, potentially enabling the decryption of sensitive communications.
An analysis of patents related to quantum technology conducted by Valuenex revealed that IBM has emerged as a leader in this field, securing 140 patents for quantum computer hardware. Microsoft follows closely behind in third place with 81 patents, while Google occupies the fourth position with 65 patents. The United States maintains a notable lead over other nations in software technology associated with quantum computing.
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