This article was originally published in the Bulletin of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Issue 6, 2024, "Special Topic: Research and Countermeasures of Scientific and Technological Innovation in the Yellow River Basin".
Duan Weiyu1, Wang Quanjing2, Chen Kaihua1*, Fang Siqing1, Liang Huiling3, Dai Renhai4
1 School of Public Policy and Management, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
2 School of Business, Zhengzhou University
3 Shandong Provincial Department of Science and Technology
4 Shandong Academy of Marine Sciences (Qingdao National Marine Science Research Center)
The evaluation and comparison of the competitiveness of scientific and technological innovation in the Yellow River Basin provinces will help to better play the supporting and leading role of scientific and technological innovation in the ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin. Combined with the practical characteristics of scientific and technological innovation in the Yellow River Basin, this paper considers the five dimensions of "scientific and technological innovation input, scientific and technological innovation output, scientific and technological entrepreneurship conditions, scientific and technological innovation income, and scientific and technological innovation impact" horizontally, and considers the two types of indicators of "strength and effectiveness" vertically, and constructs the evaluation index system of scientific and technological innovation competitiveness in the Yellow River Basin, and realizes the multi-dimensional measurement analysis of scientific and technological innovation competitiveness in the Yellow River Basin, taking into account the differences in scale and efficiency indicators. Based on this, this paper deeply analyzes the evolution trend and current situation of scientific and technological innovation competitiveness in nine provinces and regions in the Yellow River Basin from 2012 to 2021, and further compares the differences in scientific and technological innovation competitiveness in different dimensions among provinces in the Yellow River Basin. Finally, this paper puts forward policy suggestions to improve the competitiveness of scientific and technological innovation in the Yellow River Basin.
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, ecological protection and high-quality development solutions in the Yellow River Basin have become the strategic direction of the mainland's ecological civilization construction and regional coordinated development. With the two symposiums held by General Secretary Xi Jinping in Zhengzhou and Jinan in 2019 and 2021, the ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin have been elevated to a national strategy. In order to better promote the implementation of the ecological protection and high-quality development strategy of the Yellow River Basin, in October 2022, the Ministry of Science and Technology issued the "Implementation Plan for Scientific and Technological Innovation for Ecological Protection and High-quality Development of the Yellow River Basin", which mentioned that "through breakthroughs in basic theories and key technologies, and the construction of scientific and technological innovation corridors along the Yellow River region, we will promote the scientific governance of the whole region from the source of the Yellow River to the estuary", emphasizing the supporting and leading role of scientific and technological innovation in the implementation of major national strategies for the Yellow River. The provinces in the Yellow River Basin have also successively issued a series of policies to promote the ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin through the coordination of national science and technology strategic forces between regions. Considering the actual situation of the Yellow River Basin, it is a prerequisite to find out the foundation of scientific and technological innovation in each province in the Yellow River Basin, objectively evaluate the competitiveness of scientific and technological innovation, and comprehensively analyze the differences and advantages and disadvantages of each province in terms of scientific and technological innovation competitiveness.
To this end, this study constructs a comprehensive evaluation index system of scientific and technological innovation competitiveness in the Yellow River Basin, and compares the overall level and performance scores of scientific and technological innovation competitiveness in nine provinces in the Yellow River Basin, including Shandong, Henan, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Gansu, Sichuan and Qinghai, in order to comprehensively understand the evolution trend, relative level and existing problems of scientific and technological innovation competitiveness in each province in the Yellow River Basin, and put forward countermeasures and suggestions to improve the competitiveness of scientific and technological innovation in the Yellow River Basin.
1 Evaluation index system of scientific and technological innovation competitiveness in the Yellow River Basin
On the basis of fully drawing on the existing evaluation index system and combining the practical characteristics of scientific and technological innovation in the Yellow River Basin, this paper horizontally divides the competitiveness of scientific and technological innovation in the Yellow River Basin into five parts: scientific and technological innovation input, scientific and technological innovation output, scientific and technological entrepreneurship conditions, scientific and technological innovation income, and scientific and technological innovation impact, so as to realize the multi-dimensional ability of innovation factor input, output capacity, scientific and technological entrepreneurship conditions, scientific and technological innovation industry income and social impact ability of each province in the Yellow River Basin. At the same time, in order to ensure the comparability between different regional levels, the scale index and efficiency index were comprehensively considered, and the scientific and technological innovation competitiveness of the Yellow River Basin was divided into "scientific and technological innovation competitive strength" and "scientific and technological innovation competitive effectiveness". The "five-dimensional decomposition" from a horizontal perspective can support the classification research and differentiated implementation measures of regional innovation policies and strategies in the Yellow River Basin. The "two-force decomposition" from a longitudinal perspective takes into account both scale and efficiency indicators, which strengthens the fairness of inter-regional comparison.
Fig.1 Comprehensive evaluation index system of scientific and technological innovation competitiveness in the Yellow River Basin
The data processing of this paper adopts the "weighted comprehensive evaluation method", and the specific relevant data of Huangjiu provinces from 2012 to 2021 are measured and analyzed by using the "China Science and Technology Statistical Yearbook", "China Statistical Yearbook", "China Torch Statistical Yearbook", "China High-tech Industry Statistical Yearbook" and "Annual Research Report on Statistics and Analysis of China Science and Technology Papers" as data sources (Table 1).
Table 1 Evaluation index system and data sources of scientific and technological innovation competitiveness in the Yellow River Basin
2 Comparative analysis of the evolution trend of scientific and technological innovation competitiveness in the Yellow River Basin
Three echelons with significant gaps in scientific and technological innovation competitiveness have been formed along the Huangjiu provinces, and the upstream provinces are significantly behind
Among the provinces along the Yellow River, the competitiveness of scientific and technological innovation in the upstream provinces lags significantly behind that of the middle and lower reaches of the provinces. From the perspective of comprehensive score ranking, three echelons with significant gaps in the competitiveness level of scientific and technological innovation have been formed along the Huangjiu provinces. Among them, the first echelon is Shandong; The second echelon includes Shaanxi, Sichuan and Henan; The third echelon includes Inner Mongolia, Qinghai, Gansu, Shanxi and Ningxia. With the exception of Sichuan, the remaining four provinces in the upper reaches of the Yellow River are all in the third echelon.
Fig. 2 Comparison of the comprehensive scores of scientific and technological innovation competitiveness in the nine provinces along the Yellow River from 2012 to 2021
Fig. 3 Comparison of the comprehensive scores of scientific and technological innovation competitiveness in the nine provinces along the Huangjiu River from 2012 to 2021
The conditions for scientific and technological entrepreneurship and the low level of scientific and technological innovation income are the key factors restricting the competitiveness of scientific and technological innovation in the Yellow River Basin
Along the Huangjiu provinces, the scores of science and technology entrepreneurship conditions and scientific and technological innovation benefits significantly lagged behind other dimensions. Taking 2021 as an example, the average comprehensive scores of S&T innovation input (37.95), S&T innovation output (41.34) and S&T innovation impact (62.87) of provinces in the Yellow River Basin were higher than those of S&T Entrepreneurship (28.89) (25.92).
Table 2 Sub-scores and rankings of scientific and technological innovation competitiveness in the provinces along the Huangjiu River in 2021
Provinces with strong competitiveness in scientific and technological innovation should improve their "effectiveness", while weak provinces should optimize their "strength"
For Shandong, its scientific and technological innovation competitiveness score is always higher than the effectiveness score, and its own scientific and technological innovation effectiveness should be improved. For Inner Mongolia, Qinghai, Gansu, Shanxi, and Ningxia, the scores of the competitive strength of scientific and technological innovation in each province are less than the effectiveness, and their scientific and technological innovation strength should be optimized.
Fig. 4 Comparison of the comprehensive scores of scientific and technological innovation competition effectiveness in the Huangjiu provinces from 2012 to 2021
Fig. 5 Comparison of the comprehensive scores of scientific and technological innovation competitiveness in the provinces along the Huangjiu River from 2012 to 2021
Comparative analysis of the evaluation results of various dimensions of scientific and technological innovation competitiveness in the Yellow River Basin
1
Investment in scientific and technological innovation - The level of investment in scientific and technological innovation in the middle and lower reaches of provinces continues to rise, while the investment in scientific and technological innovation in upstream provinces is insufficient
From the perspective of the comprehensive score of scientific and technological innovation investment, Shandong has always been in the first place, the second echelon includes Sichuan, Shaanxi and Henan, and the third echelon includes Gansu, Shanxi, Ningxia, Qinghai and Inner Mongolia. The level of innovation investment in the third echelon of provinces shows obvious shortcomings.
Fig. 6 Comparison of the comprehensive scores of scientific and technological innovation investment in the provinces along the Huangjiu River from 2012 to 2021
2
S&T Output: The level of S&T innovation output continues to improve, but the output capacity of S&T innovation in upstream provinces except Gansu lags significantly behind that of midstream and downstream provinces
From the perspective of the comprehensive score of scientific and technological innovation output, Shaanxi has always been in the first place, which is significantly higher than that of the other provinces, while Inner Mongolia and Ningxia have always been in the eighth and ninth places alternately, and the comprehensive scores of the other provinces have shown an upward trend.
Fig. 7 Comparison of the comprehensive scores of scientific and technological innovation output in the provinces along the Huangjiu River from 2012 to 2021
3
Conditions for science and technology entrepreneurship - Except for Qinghai and Inner Mongolia, the conditions for science and technology entrepreneurship in the rest of the provinces in the Yellow River Basin are relatively improved, but the driving role of science and technology incubators in the nine provinces along the Yellow River Basin is still insufficient
From the perspective of the comprehensive score of science and technology entrepreneurship conditions, except for 2012, Sichuan, Shandong and Shaanxi provinces have always been in the top 3, Shanxi, Gansu and Ningxia have always been in the bottom 3, and Henan, Qinghai and Inner Mongolia have always been in the 4th-6th.
Fig. 8 Comparison of the comprehensive scores of science and technology entrepreneurship conditions in the nine provinces along the Huangjiu River from 2012 to 2021
4
Gains from scientific and technological innovation - Provinces along the Huangjiu River are generally faced with a severe situation of insufficient proportion of technology transfer contracts in the technology market, sales revenue of new products in high-tech industries, average transaction volume of enterprises in the technology market, and sales revenue of new products in high-tech industries in the main business
From the perspective of the comprehensive score of scientific and technological innovation income, except for Shandong, which can reach the level of more than 50 points from 2017 to 2021, the comprehensive score of innovation income of the other eight provinces is below 40 points (Figure 9).
Fig. 9 Comparison of the comprehensive scores of scientific and technological innovation income in the provinces along the Huangjiu River from 2012 to 2021
5
Impact of scientific and technological innovation: The comprehensive score of scientific and technological innovation impact of the provinces along the Yellow River increased steadily
From the perspective of the comprehensive score of scientific and technological innovation impact, since 2015, Shandong has always maintained the first place, and Inner Mongolia and Shaanxi have always been in the second and third places; Since 2012, Gansu Province, which has been in ninth place, has lagged significantly behind other provinces, and the gap between Gansu and other provinces has gradually widened over time (Figure 10).
Fig. 10 Comparison of the comprehensive scores of scientific and technological innovation impact in the nine provinces along the Huangjiu River from 2012 to 2021
3 Policy recommendations
Implement the strategy of comprehensively improving the competitiveness of scientific and technological innovation in the Yellow River Basin
1
Build a first-class innovation platform to build a solid R&D foundation in the Yellow River Basin
1. All provinces in the Yellow River Basin should build a number of major scientific and technological infrastructure with the goal of undertaking major scientific and technological tasks and solving major scientific and technological problems.
2. Encourage provinces in the Yellow River Basin to break down administrative barriers, integrate the innovation resources of universities, research institutions and enterprises, and jointly establish cross-regional innovation alliances or R&D centers.
2
Cultivate more high-end talents to consolidate the intellectual foundation of scientific and technological R&D and innovation in the Yellow River Basin
1. Universities in the provinces of the Yellow River Basin should strengthen cooperation in science and technology, talent and education. Support the exchange and cooperation of "double first-class" universities such as Shandong University and Xi'an Jiaotong University in education, science and technology, and talents, establish the Yellow River Basin University Alliance, and establish an innovation platform and talent sharing mechanism to serve the whole basin.
2. Intensify the cultivation of young scientific and technological innovation talents. Provincial-level people's governments may set up the Yellow River Basin Youth Science and Technology Innovation Fund to provide young scientific and technological talents with project start-up funds, research funds and support for the transformation of achievements.
3. The cultivation and introduction of high-level leading talents and high-level teams should be strengthened. Set up a special fund to implement a plan for the introduction and training of high-level talents such as the "Yellow River Scholars". Attract top scientists and innovation teams at home and abroad to settle in and form a high-level talent agglomeration effect.
3
Enhance the original innovation ability of enterprises to release the vitality of scientific and technological R&D and innovation in the Yellow River Basin
1. Cultivate and expand the group of innovative enterprises. Accelerate the implementation of the Yellow River Basin's innovative enterprise standard-leading action and the multiplication plan of high-tech enterprises, and build a number of high-level scientific and technological innovation platforms and incubators.
2. Establish an innovation consortium. Establish an innovation cooperation alliance in the Yellow River Basin, encourage and support universities, research institutions and enterprises in the nine provinces along the Yellow River Basin to jointly carry out research and development of key technologies for ecological protection and restoration in the Yellow River Basin, and improve the overall ecological environment quality of the Yellow River Basin.
3. Promote the full coverage of enterprise R&D activities. Provincial people's governments should introduce specific policies and measures, such as tax exemptions, R&D subsidies, innovation incentives, etc., to encourage enterprises to increase R&D investment.
Improve the mechanism for the transformation of scientific and technological achievements in the Yellow River Basin
1
Improve the evaluation system for scientific and technological achievements
The Yellow River Basin spans multiple provinces, and the application of scientific and technological achievements often requires cross-regional cooperation. It is suggested to establish a cross-provincial collaborative evaluation mechanism for scientific and technological achievements, promote resource sharing, unify evaluation standards, and ensure the effective transformation and application of scientific and technological achievements in the river basin.
2
Organize major activities for the transfer and transformation of scientific and technological achievements
Build a cross-provincial scientific and technological achievements display and trading platform, and use cloud computing, big data and other technologies to achieve efficient sharing and accurate docking of scientific and technological achievements information.
3
Accelerate the transformation of scientific and technological achievements empowered by the science and technology investment and financing system
Encourage and support local governments, financial institutions and social capital cooperation, the establishment of scientific and technological achievements transformation funds, venture capital, angel investment funds and other diversified investment and financing platforms, to provide financial support for science and technology projects at different stages, especially to focus on the start-up and growth of science and technology enterprises.
4
Establish a technology transfer cooperation network in the Yellow River Basin along the nine provinces of the Yellow River
It is necessary to build an online platform covering all provinces in the Yellow River Basin, integrating technology supply and demand release, achievement display, policy guidance and service docking, so as to realize the transparent and convenient exchange of technical resources.
Strengthen the strategy of domestic cooperation and opening-up in scientific and technological innovation in the Yellow River Basin
1
The provinces in the Yellow River Basin have identified key links and industries to carry out internal scientific and technological innovation cooperation
1. All regions in the Yellow River Basin should make overall plans for scientific and technological innovation, and attach importance to the coordinated development between regions. Establish a science and technology innovation alliance in the Yellow River Basin to promote resource sharing and complementary advantages between provinces, and form a linkage mechanism for scientific and technological innovation between regions.
2. Establish the Yellow River Basin Industrial Technology Innovation Pilot Base Alliance along the Yellow River Basin Nine Provinces. Clarify the development goals, key tasks, support policies and implementation paths of the pilot base alliance, and rely on the alliance mechanism to realize the optimal allocation of innovative resources such as funds, talents, and information.
3. Establish a collaborative innovation mechanism along the Yellow River to promote cooperation in scientific and technological innovation. Relying on the resource advantages and industrial foundation of the Yellow River Basin, we will promote the deep integration and coordinated development of upstream and downstream industrial chains.
4. Shandong and Henan are actively building "Luyu National Regional Innovation Center" and playing a leading role as "head goose".
2
The provinces in the Yellow River Basin have expanded their scientific and technological openness and carried out scientific and technological cooperation with regions outside the Yellow River Basin and international scientific and technological innovation highlands
1. Strengthen the construction of international cooperation parks and deeply integrate into the global innovation system. Taking advantage of the geographical location of the Yellow River Basin, we will actively participate in the construction of the Digital Silk Road under the Belt and Road Initiative, and promote information interconnection and digital economy cooperation among countries and regions along the Belt and Road through cloud computing, big data, artificial intelligence and other technologies.
2. Jointly build and share scientific research platforms and enhance domestic scientific and technological cooperation. Establish a science and technology innovation alliance or collaboration network in the Yellow River Basin as a bridge connecting the provinces of the Yellow River Basin with other innovation highlands in China.
Weiyu Duan is a special research assistant at the School of Public Policy and Management, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences. His main research areas are innovation networks and regional innovation.
Chen Kaihua is a distinguished professor of tenure at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, deputy director of the National Research Center for Frontier Science and Technology Integration and Innovation at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, and a member of the young editorial board of the Bulletin of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. His main research areas are national innovation system, innovation management and innovation policy, innovation metrics, etc.
Article from:Duan Weiyu, Wang Quanjing, Chen Kaihua, et al. Comparative analysis of scientific and technological innovation competitiveness in the Yellow River Basin. Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2024, 39(6): 957-970. DOI:10.16418/j.issn.1000-3045.20240524010