创新驱动经济获与会代表支持

Over the past three decades, China has witnessed rapid economic and social development. Meanwhile, the real annual growth rate of GDP averaged 10.7 percent, making China's economy the second largest in the world.

While acknowledging the achievements China has made in driving its economy forward, Zhou Ji, president of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a delegate to the current CPC National Congress, points out the necessity for a shift in the development model.

"Our economic development is mainly based on investment and on the exploitation of resources and energy. Hence, our country has paid a price when it comes to the environment and we cannot afford to pursue such a method of development; so it's high time to shift the growth model, which would basically depend on science and technology as well as a remarkable increase in our capability to innovate."

Those state-owned and private enterprises, regarded as the major players within the market, are also expected to play a leading role in the field of technological innovation. Sany Group, the world's sixth largest construction machinery manufacturer which produces cranes and excavators, has often made technology and innovation the priority.

The company has been working hard to surpass the technology which foreign companies once monopolized such as excavator technology, in which Japanese and American companies were once considered to be extremely strong.

Liang Wengen, board chairman of Sany Group, explains how his corporation has been making a profit thanks to a strategy which emphasizes technological innovation.

"Our company would spend over 5-percent of our sales volume on R and D on an annual basis. Our profit last year was 16 billion yuan, which came from our investment in research and development. Our pre-tax profit is mainly generated from our scientific innovations."

Meanwhile, the annual research and development expenditure of Tianjin Tiandy Digital Technology Company, which provides a full range of independent self-developed security monitoring products, exceeds 12-percent of its sales volume, higher than the average R&D expenditure for similar companies.

According to general manager Dai Lin, Tianjin Tiandy Digital Technology Company has conducted a large number of cooperative projects with many scientific research institutes and colleges, including Tianjin University, in developing high-tech equipment applied in security devices.

Dai Lin explains that a number of issues should be tackled first in order to ensure sound cooperation between businesses and schools.

"Take the issue of reputation for instance. While schools publish essays, enterprises own the right to apply for patents. Meanwhile, talented people who graduate from schools can work for the enterprise so as to ensure a good salary for themselves while those professionals from the enterprise may go to school for a better education."

In reality, since the 16th National Congress of the CPC, China has attached great importance to scientific and technological innovation. In 2011, national R&D expenditure stood at 868.7 billion yuan - the second highest in the world; representing an increase of 5.7 times compared to the same figure posted in 2002.

For CRI, I'm Xu Fei.