SOEs to strengthen scientific innovation
China's State-owned assets regulator and top science academy convened their 2026 annual consultation meeting in Beijing on Thursday, signing a record number of contracts to promote the deep integration of scientific and industrial innovation and accelerate the cultivation of emerging technologies.
During the event, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council and the Chinese Academy of Sciences inked four institutional cooperation agreements and 14 major project contracts. These historic deals cover critical sectors such as aerospace, biomanufacturing, new energy, new materials, robotics, and green and low-carbon technologies.
This builds upon a robust strategic partnership established in June 2023. Since their first consultation, central State-owned enterprises and CAS have implemented over 1,200 cooperation projects with total funding exceeding 32 billion yuan ($4.78 billion), achieving landmark results in energy development, deep-sea exploration, green transition and equipment manufacturing that secure the nation's industrial and supply chains.
To maximize the impact of these partnerships, SASAC Chairman Cheng Fubo emphasized the role of central SOEs as the backbone of integrating scientific and industrial innovation. He noted that central SOEs have maintained an annual research and development expenditure of over 1 trillion yuan for four consecutive years, establishing 97 original technology hubs and 32 innovation consortia, while participating in all major national science projects.
Cheng called for continued joint research initiatives to support high-level technological self-reliance, noting that future collaborations must focus on major national demands through long-term, systematic and structured efforts.
This systematic approach is already yielding significant breakthroughs. More than 1,200 personnel from 19 central SOEs are currently participating in CAS-led special tasks aimed at securing the technological high ground. Notable achievements include a hundredfold efficiency increase in industrial Fischer-Tropsch catalyst development by the National Energy Investment Group and the University of Science and Technology of China.
Noting that this year marks the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), CAS President Hou Jianguo stated that the academy has officially issued its development plan for this period, prioritizing cooperation with SASAC and central SOEs. He stressed the importance of seamlessly connecting the entire innovation chain, urging both sides to align their strategic planning to bridge basic research, application development and commercialization.
By integrating SOEs earlier into the foundational research process and keeping institutes involved during technological iteration and application, Hou pointed out that enterprises can significantly reduce the time required for secondary development and ensure a continuous stream of technical support.
This streamlined commercialization is evident in recent infrastructure and manufacturing successes. For example, a 7.6-meter ultra-large diameter main bearing was successfully deployed in highway tunnel construction by China Communications Construction Co.
To further this integration, 28 CAS institutes are now deeply embedded in 14 SOE-led innovation consortia, covering fields like next-generation information technology, high-end equipment manufacturing and new energy. The Thursday meeting showcased 32 typical collaboration cases from the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), supported by both CAS special tasks and SASAC's dedicated innovation projects.
Moving forward, SASAC and CAS will continue to refine mechanisms for intellectual property ownership and risk sharing. Both sides plan to co-build concept verification and pilot testing platforms, accelerate the development of artificial intelligence and new industries, and jointly cultivate new fields and tracks to establish benchmark projects for the future.
renqi@chinadaily.com.cn
