The Evolution of China’s High-tech Zones and the Guiding Philosophy of the Developmental State

Year 2020, Volume: 40 Issue: 2, 803 - 821, 31.12.2020

Zuoxiang Zhao

Abstract

The Chinese economy is undergoing a transition from a development stage that relies on labor and resource advantages to a new development stage driven by technology and innovation. As a developmental state, the Chinese government is constantly changing its industrial policy concepts and tools while promoting the development of high-tech industries. The transformation of the Chinese government’s development thinking has been well reflected in the development of high-tech zones at different stages. The heterogeneity of industrial policies in different periods has effectively promoted the evolution of high-tech zones from traditional industrial parks that provide infrastructure and industrial space to functional technology parks with high-tech enterprises, technology incubators and technology innovation platforms.

Keywords

Developmental state, Industrial policy, Economic structural transition, National high-tech zones, Innovation

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