Summary:

Based on the “Opinions on strengthening the scientific and technological achievements in higher education institutions” issued by China’s Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Science and Technology earlier this year (see previous SIEM market news at: https://education-services.britishcouncil.org/news/market-news/china-plans-rise-research-spending-and-encourages-universities-retain-earnings), the Ministry of Education has now set out an action plan with implementation guidelines to promote the transfer and commercialisation of scientific and technological achievements.

Among 23 key tasks split into nine broad fields, important developments covered by the action plan include:

  • Systems to support flexibility for scientific and technical personnel, including part-time posts, temporary leave to work on start-ups, and encouragement of two-way staff movement between universities and enterprises
  • Improvements to the income distribution system for technology transfer and commercialisation
  • Support for spin-off commercialisation such as "innovation and entrepreneurship clubs" and incubation support through university science and technology parks. The plan also calls for broadening the access to capital, including private equity and venture capital to support technology transfer in colleges and universities
  • Encouragement of specialised technology transfer and transformation bodies within the university as well as cooperation with third-party institutions, including the organisation of a University Union of Technology Brokers, to introduce advanced training courses of technology managers from overseas countries and to cultivate university technical brokers with global vision and proficiency in international rules.
  • Encouragement of technology innovation alliances with industries and enterprises and regional demonstration bases for technology transfer and commercialisation. The action plan also supports relevant regional plans such as the “Blue Fire Plan”.
  • Continued support for students’ innovation and entrepreneurship education, including relevant education and training as well as active engagement in innovation and entrepreneurship competitions
  • Implementation of the “Ocean Bridge Programme", which aims to establish China-US, China-UK and other Sino-foreign university technology transfer and innovation cooperation dialogue mechanisms, to develop international technology transfer cooperation network and international advanced industrial technology innovation cooperation network, and to promote Chinese universities patent development in overseas countries. The action plan also supports local government efforts in this area such as construction of international innovation parks/zones, bringing together international innovative resources, and promotion of transnational technology transfer projects.
  • Improved reporting and evaluation systems, including publicly releasing information about scientific and technological achievements and intellectual property to the public, tracking the outcomes of HEIs’ scientific and technological transfers at the provincial level, and using this as a metric to evaluate and assess HEIs.

 

Analysis by Kevin Prest and Xiaoxiao Liu:

The action plan calls for the training of technology transfer specialists based on international best practice. Given the UK’s strength and expertise in scientific and technological achievements and technology transfer, there could be scope for training and collaborative programmes with Chinese HEIs and research institutes.

The action plan also promotes cooperation between China and overseas countries in areas such as international innovation parks/zones, and transnational technology transfer projects. This could also provide opportunities for UK institutions to work with Chinese HEIs and local governments.

 

Sources:

1. November 2016: Ministry of Education - Action Plan to promote the transformation of scientific and technological achievements in higher education institutions (Chinese): http://www.moe.edu.cn/srcsite/A16/moe_784/201611/t20161116_288975.html

2. March 2016: The State Council – Regulations to implement the “Law of the People's Republic of China on Promoting the Transformation of Scientific and Technological Achievements” (Chinese): http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/2016-03/02/content_5048192.htm;

3. May 2016: The State Council - Action Plan to promote the transformation of scientific and technological achievements (Chinese): http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/2016-05/09/content_5071536.htm

4. August 2016: Ministry of Education, Ministry of Science and Technology – Opinions on strengthening the scientific and technological achievements in higher education institutions (Chinese): http://www.most.gov.cn/tztg/201608/t20160817_127255.htm