• 672 Days Ago
• 04/06/2010

What have they innovated?

I was in Shanghai too...and many other cities in China. There are lots and lots of large infrastructure projects everywhere...think Dubai before the crash...

But thinking of innovation...I did not see much innovative stuff in China. What innovations are you talking about? Specifics please.

Ok, perhaps the maglev train, and the gazillion electric bikes are sort of innovative. Sort of.

Anything else?

• 672 Days Ago
• 04/06/2010

reason for optimism

i imagine the reason that they are so optimistic is that their industrialization phase began at the earliest only 40 years ago.

considering that the infrastructure to develop and sustain innovation tends to grow exponentially during industrialization, 5 to 10 years to develop a large-scale, national research infrastructure that can begin sustaining innovation sounds about right...

• 672 Days Ago
• 04/06/2010

US or China- Global Center of Energy Innovation

There are widespread fears about the U.S. losing its ‘green’ touch. Figures for the previous year indicate China is fast emerging as the planet’s new renewable energy powerhouse. Not only did it replace the U.S. as the largest spender on clean energy in 2009 (for the first time in five years), but China is also the current world leader in the production of solar panels and installation of wind turbines (studies by the Pew Charitable Trusts). In terms of total amount of installed renewable energy too, the world’s most populous country is all set to overtake the U.S. Thus there is every chance that unless it changes its policies to leverage more investment, the U.S. could miss out significantly in the clean energy arena.

Read More: US to compete or work with China on clean energy

• 671 Days Ago
• 04/07/2010

Innovation in China

I still remember when the standard view of Japan was that they could copy but couldn't invent. Of course the traditional way of learning, which is still popular in the East is to start out by copying the masters. Only once you have mastered that (pun intended) can you move onto creating your own. From what I can see of China, they are just on the cusp of switching from copying to inventing in a significant way. There are already good examples, such as Huawei's mobile offerings. It seems quite reasonable to assume that China can innovate in other areas as well, especially when you consider the sheer number of people involved in design.

• 671 Days Ago
• 04/07/2010

China's Innovation Revolution

15 years ago a family friend went to China.  Upon return he told me American ideas about China are at least a decade behind reality.  Today, our perceptions appear to be catching up, but we are still not fully aware of the advances China has made.

In the past 15 years China has become the dominant volume producer of electronics, consumer products, solar panels, wind energy machinery, communications equipment, IT hardware and industrial commodities (steel, etc.)  They have mirrored US post war Energy Acquisition strategies, by befriending shady governments, and will likely surpass the US in conventional military hardware in less than a decade.

With the acquisition of global automotive brands, (Hummer and Volvo) they are poised to transition into global distribution of commercial vehicles and passenger cars.  It took Korea nearly 30 years to make Hyundai and KIA into global brands.  It's taken half that time for GM, Ford, Volvo, and VW to become Chinese manufacturers.  Within 5 years, China will be selling multiple Chinese vehicle brands in the US.

The final push, into the financial services industry, has begun in earnest.  This transition, financed by the US trade deficit with China, will be the fastest.  Essentially electronic in nature, the build out requires less infrastructure and time than any other sector they have desired to dominate.  look for a Chinese city to surpass London and New York as the trading capital of the world.  Doing so averts China's looming problems with currency valuations and will undo US dollar global hegemony.  Conveniently, this is happening at a time when we are least prepared to prevent it.

Think of China as experiencing thier version of what America went through immediately following WWII.  Post war expansion in America was fueled by explosive growth in the energy sector, construction industries, and creation of a consumer culture.  They are doing likewise.  Should they choose to follow our path into military intervention, Cantonese may replace English as the second language of the world.