The Innovation Ceiling: China's Catch Up Era Comes Up Against Its Own Strengths China's remarkable rise to technological prominence has been built on catching up with Western scientific advances, not leading the pack.
For decades, the country has used foreign innovations to catapult itself into the forefront of multiple fields – from biotechnology to materials science. However, this model is beginning to show signs of strain.
The warning bells are being rung by China's own scientists and scholars, who point to two key obstacles hindering their country's innovation drive.