The Evolution of China’s High-tech Zones and the Guiding Philosophy of the Developmental State

Abstract

The Chinese economy is undergoing a transition from a development stage that relies on labor and resource advantages to a new development stage driven by technology and innovation. As a developmental state, the Chinese government is constantly changing its industrial policy concepts and tools while promoting the development of high-tech industries. The transformation of the Chinese government’s development thinking has been well reflected in the development of high-tech zones at different stages. The heterogeneity of industrial policies in different periods has effectively promoted the evolution of high-tech zones from traditional industrial parks that provide infrastructure and industrial space to functional technology parks with high-tech enterprises, technology incubators and technology innovation platforms.