Forward-Looking Layout and Development of Future Industries※

Today, the 24th collective study session of the 20th Central Political Bureau is being held, focusing on the forward-looking layout and development of future industries. The main purpose is to summarize the development of China’s future industries in recent years, analyze global trends in future industries, and reflect on cultivating and developing these industries.

Currently, a new wave of technological revolution and industrial transformation is accelerating, with cutting-edge technologies constantly emerging, leading and supporting the rapid rise of future industries. Cultivating and developing future industries is of great significance for seizing the commanding heights of technology and industry, firmly grasping the initiative in development, developing new productive forces, building a modern industrial system, improving people’s quality of life, and promoting comprehensive human development and social progress.

In recent years, the Party Central Committee has attached great importance to future industries, strengthening strategic planning and policy support. This has fostered a positive momentum in the development of future industries, with overall competitiveness ranking among the world’s top tier. More and more fields are achieving “parallel running” or even “leading.” At the same time, we must recognize that there are still many shortcomings and weaknesses. On the new journey, we must stand at a strategic height to advance the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation, base ourselves on objective conditions, leverage comparative advantages, adhere to steady progress and gradient cultivation, and continuously achieve new breakthroughs in the development of China’s future industries.

Below, I emphasize a few points.

First, strengthen overall planning. Future industries have forward-looking, strategic, and disruptive characteristics, requiring scientific planning and comprehensive coordination. The direction of development must be accurately identified. Only with a clear direction can the path be correct and steps firm. The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee proposed promoting quantum technology, biomanufacturing, hydrogen energy and nuclear fusion energy, brain-computer interfaces, embodied intelligence, and sixth-generation mobile communications as new economic growth points. These areas are the main directions for China’s future industry development during the “15th Five-Year Plan” period. We must focus efforts and implement precise policies to ensure significant progress. Scientific demonstration of technological routes is essential, with emphasis on enhancing strategic forecasting of cutting-edge technologies, exploring multiple technological routes, and making timely dynamic adjustments. The pace of development must be grasped, considering factors such as national strategic needs, technological maturity, and element support conditions. We need to unify needs and possibilities, formulate and implement plans by category, achieving the easy before the difficult, the near before the far, and advancing steadily. In particular, local governments must establish and practice a correct view of performance, adhere to a nationwide coordinated approach, develop according to local conditions and differentiated positioning, and prevent blindly following trends in projects and wasteful spending. Industrial synergy must be strengthened. Future industries complement and promote traditional and emerging industries. The solid foundation of traditional industries provides momentum for the development of future and emerging industries. We must adhere to linked development, avoid isolated advances, and ensure that future industries, emerging industries, and traditional industries mutually reinforce each other.

Second, adhere to science and technology innovation as the guide. The degree of technological breakthroughs largely determines the speed, breadth, and depth of future industry development. We must fully leverage the advantages of the new national system, strengthen the role of national strategic scientific forces, adhere to the principle of “industries posing questions, science and technology providing answers,” and greatly enhance the capability of science and technology to support and lead. In the short term, extraordinary measures should be taken to intensify efforts in tackling key core technologies in critical areas, quickly resolving “bottleneck” issues restricting future industry development. In the long term, we must strengthen the strategic, forward-looking, and systematic layout of basic research, reinforce the original innovation orientation of scientific research and technological development, and strive to fundamentally solve principle and foundational issues. We must promote deep integration of technological innovation and industrial innovation, accelerate the transformation and application of scientific achievements, and work to turn scientific creativity into real productive forces.

Third, leverage the main role of enterprises. Enterprises are the main body of innovation, and many future industries rise through continuous breakthroughs driven by enterprises. Through policy guidance, mechanism innovation, and ecological optimization, we must push various

Quantum technology

Quantum technology is an advanced field of physics and engineering that harnesses the principles of quantum mechanics, such as superposition and entanglement, to develop revolutionary applications like quantum computing, cryptography, and sensing. Its history began in the early 20th century with the formulation of quantum theory, but practical development accelerated in the late 20th and early 21st centuries as scientists learned to control individual quantum systems. Today, it represents a cutting-edge frontier with the potential to transform computing power, secure communications, and precision measurement.

Biomanufacturing

Biomanufacturing is the use of biological systems, such as living cells or enzymes, to produce commercially valuable products like pharmaceuticals, biofuels, and biomaterials. Its modern roots trace back to the development of fermentation technology and the discovery of antibiotics in the early 20th century, followed by the genetic engineering revolution of the 1970s that enabled the production of complex proteins like insulin. Today, it is a rapidly advancing field that combines biology with engineering to create sustainable and scalable manufacturing processes.

Hydrogen energy

Hydrogen energy refers to the use of hydrogen as a clean fuel source, producing only water vapor when consumed in a fuel cell. Its history dates back to the early 19th century, with the first fuel cell invented by Sir William Grove in 1839, though large-scale interest grew in the late 20th century due to climate change concerns. Today, it is seen as a key component in the transition to renewable energy, powering vehicles, industry, and electricity grids with zero carbon emissions.

Nuclear fusion energy

Nuclear fusion energy is the process that powers the sun and stars, where atomic nuclei combine to release vast amounts of energy. First theorized in the early 20th century, scientists have been working for decades to replicate this process on Earth as a nearly limitless, clean energy source. While experimental reactors like ITER aim to achieve sustainable fusion, a commercially viable plant remains under development, promising a future with minimal radioactive waste and abundant fuel from seawater.

Brain-computer interfaces

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are technological systems that enable direct communication between the human brain and external devices, often used to assist people with paralysis or neurological conditions. The field began in the 1970s with research at UCLA, but significant advances have occurred in the 21st century, including the development of implantable chips and non-invasive headsets. Today, BCIs are being explored for applications ranging from restoring movement to enhancing cognitive abilities, though they remain largely experimental.

Embodied intelligence

“Embodied intelligence” is not a physical place or cultural site, but a concept in robotics and cognitive science. It proposes that intelligent behavior arises from the interaction between an agent’s body and its environment, rather than from a centralized “brain” alone. This idea gained prominence in the 1980s and 1990s, challenging traditional AI by emphasizing how physical form and sensory-motor capabilities shape cognition.

Sixth-generation mobile communications

Sixth-generation mobile communications (6G) is the envisioned successor to 5G, expected to emerge around 2030 and offer vastly faster speeds, ultra-low latency, and advanced capabilities like holographic communication and integrated AI. While still in early research and development, 6G aims to build on the history of previous generations by enabling a fully connected, intelligent world with support for technologies such as terahertz frequencies and satellite-terrestrial networks. Its development is driven by global collaborations among governments, academia, and industry to push beyond the limits of current wireless infrastructure.