GUANGZHOU, China – China wants to boost research on what it calls “frontier technology,” including quantum computing and semiconductors, as it competes with the United States for supremacy in the latest innovations.
In its 14-year development plan, the 14th of its kind, Beijing said it would turn “self-sufficiency and personal improvement of science and technology into a strategic pillar for national development,” according to a CNBC translation.
Premier Li Keqiang said on Friday that China would increase spending on research and development by more than 7% annually between 2021 and 2025, in search of “major advances” in technology.
Proponents of China’s technology, such as Huawei and SMIC, have been subject to US sanctions, as tensions between Beijing and Washington have risen in recent years.
As such, China has focused on increasing its national experience in areas it considers strategically important, such as semiconductors. And it has now introduced seven “frontier technologies” that it will prioritize not only over the next five years, but beyond.
1) Artificial Intelligence (AI)
China plans to focus on developing specialized chips for AI applications and developing so-called open source algorithms. Open source technology is usually developed by one entity and authorized 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 in large amounts of data. The program “learns” as it feeds on more data.
AI has been a key field for Chinese companies and central government in recent years. Large companies such as Alibaba and Baidu have invested in this technology.
China and the United States compete for control of AI. A panel of experts chaired by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt said 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 in which it has 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. Taiwan’s TSMC and South Korea’s Samsung are the two most advanced chip makers, but they rely on tools from the United States and Europe.
Washington has put SMIC, China’s largest chip maker, on an export blacklist called the Entity List. SMIC cannot get into the hands of American technology. And, according to reports, the United States has lobbied to prevent Dutch company ASML from sending a key tool that could help SMIC catch up with rivals.
Because China does not have the companies capable of designing and manufacturing the tools its chip makers need, it depends on companies in other countries. This is something China wants to change.
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 very important because they fit into many of the devices we use, such as smartphones, but they are also important to other industries.
4) Brain science
China plans to investigate areas such as how to stop brain disease.
But he also says he plans to study “brain-inspired computing,” as well as “brain-computer fusion technology,” according to a CNBC translation. The five-year plan did not detail how this could be.
China established seven “frontier” technologies in its 14th Five-Year Plan. These are areas where China will focus on research and include semiconductors and brain-computer fusion.
Yuichiro Chino | Moment | Getty Images
However, this work is already underway in the US at Eural Musk’s company, Neuralink. Musk works on implantable brain-chip interfaces to connect humans and computers.
5) Genomics and biotechnology
With the outbreak of coronavirus last year, biotechnology has gained importance.
China says it will focus on “innovative vaccines” and “biological safety research.”
6) Clinical medicine and health
China’s research will focus on understanding the progression of cancer, cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic diseases.
The government also says it will investigate some “cutting-edge” treatment technologies such as regenerative medicine. These are drugs that can grow or repair damaged cells, tissues, and organs.
China says it will also study key technologies in the prevention and treatment of major communicable diseases.
7) Deep space, deep land, deep sea and polar research
Space exploration has been one of China’s top priorities recently. Beijing said it will focus on research on “the origin and evolution of the universe,” Mars exploration, as well as research on the deep and polar seas.
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 the first time it collected moon samples.
And in July, China launched a mission to Mars called Tianwen -1.
– CNBC’s Iris Wang contributed to this report.