Harvard Think Tank: "China to Surpass US in Core Technology Fields Within 10 Years"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Amid intensifying technological competition between the United States and China, it is forecasted that China will surpass the U.S. in core technology sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI) and 5th generation mobile communications (5G) within the next decade.

On the 10th (local time), according to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) in the U.S. and the South China Morning Post (SCMP) in Hong Kong, the Belfer Center, a think tank at Harvard University's Kennedy School, predicted this in a recently published report titled "The Great Tech Rivalry: China and the United States in the 21st Century."

The report stated that China will catch up with the U.S. in fundamental 21st-century core technology fields including AI, 5G, quantum information science (QIS), semiconductors, biotechnology, and green energy within 10 years, and assessed that in some areas such as AI, China has already surpassed the U.S.

After mentioning the speed of China's technological advancement, the report pointed out, "Today, the greatest concern of the United States is the rapid rise of China challenging America's technological dominance."

The report introduced that since the 21st century, China has been replacing the U.S. as a major manufacturing powerhouse in advanced technology sectors, producing 250 million computers, 25 million automobiles, and 1.5 billion smartphones last year.

Earlier, another U.S. think tank, the Aspen Institute, projected in a report published in July that if China implements its "14th Five-Year Economic Plan (2021?2025)," China's research and development (R&D) expenditure will surpass that of the U.S. by 2025.

China has announced plans to focus on nurturing "8 emerging industries" and "7 key areas" in science and technology, pledging to increase R&D spending by more than 7% annually during the 14th Five-Year Economic Plan period.

The 8 emerging industries include ▲ new materials including rare earth elements ▲ technological equipment such as high-speed rail and large liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers ▲ smart manufacturing and robotics technology ▲ aircraft engines ▲ applications of the Beidou satellite positioning system ▲ new energy vehicles and smart cars ▲ advanced medical equipment and new drugs ▲ and agricultural machinery.

Additionally, the 7 key areas are artificial intelligence, quantum information, integrated circuits, brain science, genetics and biotechnology, clinical medicine and healthcare, and space, deep-sea, and polar exploration.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.