Guangdong's New R&D Institutes

In pursuit of technological development, China has created new organizations to promoteinnovation. This brief examines New Research and Development Institutes (NRDIs), which are designedto foster knowledge transfer to industry. NRDIs were pioneered in Guangdong province in the 1990s, andhave gained prominence in China's national science, technology, and innovation policies since the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020). NRDIs are defined by their market orientation and extremelyflexible organizationalform. They work by establishing"innovation platforms"with local governments and private knowledge actorsto carry out research and development (R&D), commercialize scientific and technological achievements,incubate local technology industries, and cultivate high-end talent. NRDIs have been instrumental to regionaldevelopment in Guangdong, and especially Shenzhen, where they have succeeded in attracting talent fromoutside the region. NRDIs have important policy implications for international competition for talent.Understanding NRDIs is crucial for other countries that want to improve their own inter-regionalinnovation resources and respond to the challenge of China's drive to attract global talent and knowledgeresources.KEYWORDSresearch,science,technology,innovation,industry.