Report: Geopolitical factors hinder sci-tech innovation, collaboration

Geopolitical tensions and restrictive regulatory frameworks are increasingly hindering global scientific and technological innovation and collaboration, according to a report released on Friday.

The Boao Forum for Asia Innovation Report 2024, jointly compiled by the Boao Forum for Asia Academy and market consultancy Deloitte China, outlined key trends that shaped the sci-tech innovation landscape last year and called for greater global collaboration to overcome challenges.

Zhang Jun, secretary-general of the Boao Forum for Asia and China's former permanent representative to the United Nations, emphasized that international technological cooperation should not be obstructed under the pretext of security concerns.

"The Asian region should maintain strategic autonomy and, in the future, link technological innovation outcomes organically with regional economic integration to create regional technological hubs," he said.

Underlining that technological progress has always accompanied human development, Zhang urged nations to adopt a win-win development approach and maintain open cooperation.

"In the Asia-Pacific region, whether related to the goals of liberalization and facilitation or sustainable development and high-quality growth, the support of technological power and institutional transformation and upgrading is necessary," he said.

The report identified national strategies as a critical framework for guiding sci-tech innovation. It highlighted the importance of policies that support research and development as a catalyst for growth, urging governments to create environments conducive to innovation and aligned with evolving industrial needs.

A notable trend outlined in the report is the shift from cross-disciplinary collaboration to collaboration without boundaries, signaling the dawn of what it called the "Big Science Era". This phase transcends traditional silos, enabling researchers and organizations to work across various fields to address complex global challenges, it said.

The emergence of an organized research model was highlighted as a driving force for breakthroughs. This model promotes structured collaboration, optimizing resource and expertise allocation in a rapidly evolving technological landscape, it said.

However, the report cautioned about uncertainties arising from the rapid pace of technological changes. The proliferation of cutting-edge technologies has created a landscape filled with unknowns, necessitating agility and preparedness for unexpected developments. Flexibility and adaptability will be essential strategies for navigating these challenges, it said.

Zhang emphasized the need for policy coordination to address these complexities. "The more complex the economic environment becomes, the more countries need to strengthen policy coordination and establish an inclusive regulatory mechanism for technological innovation and cooperation," he said.

He added that fostering an open and inclusive innovation ecosystem would promote the integration of technological innovation in Asia and drive regional economic integration.