Fu Xiaolan, director of the Technology and Management for Development Centre at Oxford University.

Academic wants China to reassess how it handles its innovation

China has been a loud and persistent proponent of innovation in the past 10 years or so, its leaders often declaring how important it is and saying it should be one of the main driving forces of economic reform and development.

In everyday life the impact of innovation can be seen in more effective products, processes, services, technologies, or ideas that are readily available to markets, governments and society.

Scientists awarded natl prize, premier stresses innovation

Silent revolution of 'made-in-China'

In China, high-speed trains, solar energy and supercomputing developments and its space exploration show the country has something to boast about, and yet the feeling persists that something is missing in its innovation, science policy analysts say.

One of those keen to see the country do better is Fu Xiaolan, director of the Technology and Management for Development Centre at Oxford University. Fu, born in China, is also author of the book China's Role in Global Economic Recovery. Innovation is one of her research interests.

China needs to throw its weight behind the world's push for innovation and in doing so draw all of the benefits it can from the exercise, she says.

Fu says China has invested a lot in innovation and has grown extremely quickly, but that it urgently needs to upgrade the level and efficiency of innovation.

These days no country can succeed without openness and taking a role in global innovation, she says.

"China needs to use unconventional methods of integration, including transnational collaborative innovation, outward direct investment and mobility of highly skilled talent. It should also take part in setting international standards and in the activities of international organizations.