Industrial Policy and Technology

Research and Insights

An illustration shows the Deepseek APP download page displayed on a smartphone.

Deepseek’s success masks China’s weakening innovation model

Jeroen Groenewegen-Lau

Comment

Apr 07, 2025

A staff member works at the State Key Laboratory of Public Big Data at Guizhou University.

Greater secrecy in science and tech makes China’s progress harder to decipher

Antonia Hmaidi

Comment

Mar 20, 2025

Google New York headquarters in New York City

Google antitrust probe puts Beijing’s software “nationalism” in the spotlight

Rebecca Arcesati

Comment

Mar 20, 2025

Busy production line of Northeast Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd. in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China.

China advancing in drug discovery but needs foreign firms to get drugs to market

Jeroen Groenewegen-Lau

Comment

Mar 20, 2025

Guo Guangcan 郭光灿, one of China’s pioneers in quantum computing

Comment

Mar 20, 2025

Despite Huawei’s progress, Nvidia continues to dominate AI chips market in China

Antonia Hmaidi

Comment

Mar 20, 2025

Workers debug smart mobile charging piles at Nantong Guoxuan New Energy Technology Co., LTD., located in Nantong High-tech Zone, East China's Jiangsu provincr

Beijing pushes for more efficiency in new energy sector

Wendy Chang

Comment

Mar 20, 2025

A staff member works in the data room of a supercomputing center in Gui'an New Area, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Aug. 29, 2024.

Data policy push + SME financing + Green hydrogen

Andreas Mischer

MERICS China Industries

Mar 12, 2025

Mikko Huotari on China and the new Silicon Valley of the car industry (F.A.Z. Podcast)

External publication

Feb 19, 2025

US swings boldly to block China’s AI progress, with fallout for other countries

Wendy Chang

Antonia Hmaidi

Comment

Feb 18, 2025

DeepSeek and the upcoming AI Action Summit, with Rebecca Arcesati

Podcast

Feb 07, 2025

A logistics center in Pilot Free Trade Zone in Heihe, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province

China's GDP expands in Q4 but new growth drivers are needed in 2025

Alexander Brown

François Chimits

Max J. Zenglein

Economic Indicators

Jan 23, 2025

China’s economy in 2025, with Max Zenglein

Podcast

Jan 23, 2025

China and the race for quantum leadership, with Antonia Hmaidi and Jeroen Groenewegen-Lau

Podcast

Jan 10, 2025

18 Humanoid Robot Vanguard Matrix are being displayed at the entrance of WAIC, World Artificial Intelligence Conference at Shanghai World Expo Exhibition Center in Shanghai, China, on July 5, 2024, during the first public viewing day (Photo by Ying Tang/NurPhoto).

China’s AI future in a quest for geopolitical, computing and electric power

Rebecca Arcesati

Comment

Dec 18, 2024

his combined photo shows China launching the world's first quantum satellite on top of a Long March-2D rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Jiuquan, northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 16, 2016.

China’s long view on quantum tech has the US and EU playing catch-up

Antonia Hmaidi

Jeroen Groenewegen-Lau

Report

Dec 14, 2024

Peng Chengzhi (2nd L) and his colleagues talk about their research in front of the Zuchongzhi 2, a 66-qubit programmable quantum computing system, in Shanghai Research Center for Quantum Science in east China's Shanghai, July 22, 2023.

US-China competition could lead to sub-par quantum tech standards

Antonia Hmaidi

Comment

Dec 13, 2024

Construction workers install photovoltaic modules on the roof of Tongwei Electric Haian Co., LTD in Hai 'an, Jiangsu province, China, November 19, 2024.

Policymakers take first steps to curb overinvestment in solar manufacturing

Alexander Brown

Comment

Dec 13, 2024

A worker is producing semiconductor products at a semiconductor manufacturing enterprise in Binzhou, East China's Shandong province, June 4, 2024

Export control breach reveals China’s continuing struggle to produce high-end semiconductors

Wendy Chang

Comment

Dec 13, 2024

Profile: Shanghai AI Lab: Driving both AI safety and development

Comment

Dec 13, 2024

actory flags of famous Chinese enterprises flutter in the wind under the blue sky in front of the square of the permanent site of the Zhongguancun Forum in Beijing, China, May 14, 2024.

Impatient for tech breakthroughs, the Communist Party is pushing aside private initiatives

Jeroen Groenewegen-Lau

Comment

Dec 13, 2024

A worker produces new materials for high-end special-shaped anti-counterfeiting bottle caps at a workshop of Sihong Economic Development Zone in Suqian, Jiangsu province, China, November 13, 2024.

New materials big data system + New energy storage industry + Smart factories

Alexander Brown

Andreas Mischer

MERICS China Industries

Dec 04, 2024

New MERICS index: how internationally integrated is China's economy?

François Chimits

Report

Nov 21, 2024

A worker makes lace products on a production line at a smart textile production workshop in Fuzhou, Fujian province, China, Sept 20, 2024.

Network data regulations + Smart manufacturing + Biologics

Alexander Brown

Andreas Mischer

MERICS China Industries

Nov 06, 2024

A man works in a workshop of a graphite company in Jixi City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, March 24, 2023.

Europe’s economic security agenda needs far better techno-industrial intelligence

Rebecca Arcesati

Tobias Gehrke

Comment

Oct 28, 2024

Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceship and a Long March-2F carrier rocket being transferred to the launch area.

China’s new space science plan + BRICS Summit + Steel exports

MERICS China Essentials

Oct 25, 2024

China’s economy shows faint signs of stabilization over Q3

Max J. Zenglein

François Chimits

Alexander Brown

Economic Indicators

Oct 23, 2024

Car carriers load cars for export at Yantai Port in Yantai, Shandong province, China, July 2024.

EU-China EV row + China’s stock market rally wilts + Labeling of AI-generated content

MERICS China Essentials

Oct 10, 2024

Workers at a liquid crystal display manufacturer work at Shanting Economic Development Zone in east China's Shandong province

“Manufacturing Champions” + Equipment renewal + Mobile Internet of Things

Alexander Brown

Andreas Mischer

MERICS China Industries

Oct 02, 2024

China’s drive for self-sufficiency in critical technologies, with Antonia Hmaidi

Podcast

Oct 02, 2024

Chinese LLMs + Weight-loss drugs + Chinese telcos build AI models

Antonia Hmaidi

Jeroen Groenewegen-Lau

Rebecca Arcesati

Wendy Chang

Sep 26, 2024

MERICS starts the China Tech Observatory

Press release

Sep 26, 2024

Builders, along with hundreds of engineering vehicles and ladders, push forward the construction of key projects at Huawei's Qingpu R&D Center in Shanghai, China, April 12, 2023.

R&D support + Financing innovative SMEs + Government procurement

Alexander Brown

Andreas Mischer

MERICS China Industries

Sep 04, 2024

US-China AI competition + Deng Xiaoping's 120th birthday + South China Sea

MERICS China Essentials

Aug 29, 2024

Composite photo taken on Dec. 10, 2016 shows a quantum communication ground station in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.

Anhui leads in China's quantum research and policies

Antonia Hmaidi

Comment

Aug 12, 2024

Container terminal in Taicang Port area of Suzhou Port, China

Keeping value chains at home

Rebecca Arcesati

François Chimits

Antonia Hmaidi

Report

Aug 08, 2024

Xiaomi SU7 at a Xiaomi car showroom in Beijing, China, May 2024.

China’s EVs are AI-on-wheels, while European cars are still trying to get smart

Wendy Chang

Antonia Hmaidi

Comment

Aug 01, 2024

Economic momentum falters over Q2

Max J. Zenglein

François Chimits

Alexander Brown

Economic Indicators

Jul 19, 2024

Xiaomi is unveiling the new SU7, an entirely electric car, at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, on March 8, 2024. T

Europe needs swift action in regulating data-gathering smart cars

Wendy Chang

Comment

Jul 08, 2024

Smart robots operate at a workshop of Ronma Solar in Jinhua City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Feb. 19, 2024. Factories across China have gradually resumed operations as the country's most celebrated holiday Spring Festival ends.

“Little Giants” program + Corporate sustainability standards + Fair competition reviews

Jacob Gunter

Jeroen Groenewegen-Lau

MERICS China Industries

Jul 03, 2024

This composite photo taken on Dec. 9, 2016 shows a satellite-to-earth link established between quantum satellite "Micius" and the quantum teleportation experiment platform in Ali, Tibet Autonomous Region.

Europe must end its quantum technology research with China

Jeroen Groenewegen-Lau

Comment

Jun 25, 2024

Workers process chips at a workshop of an optoelectronic technology company in Huai 'an city, Jiangsu province, May 11, 2024.

To stand up to US pressure, Europe needs better intelligence on China’s innovation system

Rebecca Arcesati

Comment

Jun 06, 2024

Drug production line at the production workshop of a pharmaceutical company in Meishan city, Sichuan province, China

Healthcare procurement + Bidding and tendering + Data exports

Alexander Brown

Jeroen Groenewegen-Lau

MERICS China Industries

Jun 05, 2024

Workers make elevator parts at a fully automated SMT production line in Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China, April 12, 2023.

Between two economic traps: Did China peak in 2021?

External publication

May 31, 2024

orkers work at an automated production workshop of Huihua Electronics Co LTD in Zixing Economic Development Zone, central China's Hunan province, Feb. 14, 2023.

Innovation in China: Domestic efforts and global integration

External publication

May 30, 2024

Scientific espionage + Real estate sector + Taiwan

MERICS China Essentials

May 30, 2024

China’s evolving semiconductor strategy

External publication

May 29, 2024

A worker makes and tests semiconductor power device chip products at a workshop of a microelectronics company in Binhai New Area, Hai 'an City, East China's Jiangsu Province, March 23, 2023.

Gradual US export restrictions are helping China to work around the problems they create

Antonia Hmaidi

Comment

May 29, 2024

Xiaomi founder Lei Jun shows off the colours of the SU7, a sporty four-door sedan, with matching Xiaomi smartphones in Beijing, Thursday, March 28, 2024.

The data quagmire for German carmakers in China

Rebecca Arcesati

Comment

May 06, 2024

erial photo taken on Feb. 27, 2023 shows the Zhejiang Cloud Computing Data Center in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province.

China’s AI development model in an era of technological deglobalization

Rebecca Arcesati

Report

May 02, 2024

A researcher watches the results of protein analysis on a fully automated single-cell proteome analysis platform at the Hangzhou International Science and Innovation Center Laboratory of Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China, March 7, 2024.

China’s endless frontier: “Organized Scientific Research” and the quest for technological self-reliance

External publication

Apr 30, 2024

The Unitree Go2, a dog-inspired quadruped robot designed by the Chinese robotics company, is being showcased at the Mobile World Congress 2024 in Barcelona, Spain, on April 3, 2024.

The accelerator state: Small firms join the fray of China’s techno-industrial drive

Alexander Brown

Report

Apr 29, 2024

Ships carry out container loading and unloading operations at the Dapukou container Terminal at Zhoushan Port, Zhejiang province, China, April 9, 2024.

Toward South Korean-German cooperation in economic security

Max J. Zenglein

Comment

Apr 26, 2024

A ship is loaded with vehicles for export in a port in Yantai in east China's Shandong province.

China’s economy leaves a mixed picture in Q1

Max J. Zenglein

Alexander Brown

François Chimits

Economic Indicators

Apr 24, 2024

Where China stands in the global race for talent

Jeroen Groenewegen-Lau

Antonia Hmaidi

Report

Apr 23, 2024

A Baidu user visits the homepage of "ERNIE Bot".

China keeps generative AI on simmer

Wendy Chang

Comment

Apr 17, 2024

A robot inspects servers at the China Telecom (National) Digital Qinghai Green Big Data Center, China's the first zero-carbon data center in Haidong City, northwest China's Qinghai Province, 19 March, 2024.

Cross-border data flows + "Low altitude economy" + Foreign investment

Alexander Brown

Wendy Chang

Jeroen Groenewegen-Lau

Jacob Gunter

MERICS China Industries

Apr 11, 2024

Workers make liquid crystal displays and modules on the production line at a semiconductor production workshop in China

Huawei is quietly dominating China’s semiconductor supply chain

Antonia Hmaidi

Report

Apr 09, 2024

Experts on Industrial Policy and Technology

Rebecca Arcesati

Lead Analyst (Brussels office)

Digital Silk Road; artificial intelligence; technology and innovation in Europe-China relations

Jeroen Groenewegen-Lau

Head of Program

Strategic emerging industries; Research collaboration; Tech transfer

Max J. Zenglein

Chief Economist

China’s macroeconomic development; international trade and investment; economic reforms

Alexander Brown

Senior Analyst (on parental leave)

Industrial policy; foreign economic policy

Jacob Gunter

Lead Analyst

China's political economy; Industrial policy; Innovation

Andreas Mischer

Analyst

Foreign investment; industrial policy and Chinese automotive industry

Antonia Hmaidi

Senior Analyst

Geopolitics of technology; semiconductors; data science; hacking

Wendy Chang

Analyst

China's tech companies, digital ecosystem and emerging technologies including AI

Industrial Policy and Technology

Deepseek’s success masks China’s weakening innovation model

Greater secrecy in science and tech makes China’s progress harder to decipher

Google antitrust probe puts Beijing’s software “nationalism” in the spotlight

China advancing in drug discovery but needs foreign firms to get drugs to market

Guo Guangcan 郭光灿, one of China’s pioneers in quantum computing

Despite Huawei’s progress, Nvidia continues to dominate AI chips market in China

Beijing pushes for more efficiency in new energy sector

Data policy push + SME financing + Green hydrogen

Mikko Huotari on China and the new Silicon Valley of the car industry (F.A.Z. Podcast)

US swings boldly to block China’s AI progress, with fallout for other countries

DeepSeek and the upcoming AI Action Summit, with Rebecca Arcesati

China's GDP expands in Q4 but new growth drivers are needed in 2025

China’s economy in 2025, with Max Zenglein

China and the race for quantum leadership, with Antonia Hmaidi and Jeroen Groenewegen-Lau

China’s AI future in a quest for geopolitical, computing and electric power

China’s long view on quantum tech has the US and EU playing catch-up

US-China competition could lead to sub-par quantum tech standards

Policymakers take first steps to curb overinvestment in solar manufacturing

Export control breach reveals China’s continuing struggle to produce high-end semiconductors

Profile: Shanghai AI Lab: Driving both AI safety and development

Impatient for tech breakthroughs, the Communist Party is pushing aside private initiatives

New materials big data system + New energy storage industry + Smart factories

New MERICS index: how internationally integrated is China's economy?

Network data regulations + Smart manufacturing + Biologics

Europe’s economic security agenda needs far better techno-industrial intelligence

China’s new space science plan + BRICS Summit + Steel exports

China’s economy shows faint signs of stabilization over Q3

EU-China EV row + China’s stock market rally wilts + Labeling of AI-generated content

“Manufacturing Champions” + Equipment renewal + Mobile Internet of Things

China’s drive for self-sufficiency in critical technologies, with Antonia Hmaidi

Chinese LLMs + Weight-loss drugs + Chinese telcos build AI models

MERICS starts the China Tech Observatory

R&D support + Financing innovative SMEs + Government procurement

US-China AI competition + Deng Xiaoping's 120th birthday + South China Sea

Anhui leads in China's quantum research and policies

Keeping value chains at home

China’s EVs are AI-on-wheels, while European cars are still trying to get smart

Economic momentum falters over Q2

Europe needs swift action in regulating data-gathering smart cars

“Little Giants” program + Corporate sustainability standards + Fair competition reviews

Europe must end its quantum technology research with China

To stand up to US pressure, Europe needs better intelligence on China’s innovation system

Healthcare procurement + Bidding and tendering + Data exports

Between two economic traps: Did China peak in 2021?

Innovation in China: Domestic efforts and global integration

Scientific espionage + Real estate sector + Taiwan

China’s evolving semiconductor strategy

Gradual US export restrictions are helping China to work around the problems they create

The data quagmire for German carmakers in China

China’s AI development model in an era of technological deglobalization

China’s endless frontier: “Organized Scientific Research” and the quest for technological self-reliance

The accelerator state: Small firms join the fray of China’s techno-industrial drive

Toward South Korean-German cooperation in economic security

China’s economy leaves a mixed picture in Q1

Where China stands in the global race for talent

China keeps generative AI on simmer

Cross-border data flows + "Low altitude economy" + Foreign investment

Huawei is quietly dominating China’s semiconductor supply chain

Rebecca Arcesati

Jeroen Groenewegen-Lau

Max J. Zenglein

Alexander Brown

Jacob Gunter

Andreas Mischer

Antonia Hmaidi

Wendy Chang

Become a member

Data policy push + SME financing + Green hydrogen