As China’s era of rapid catch-up growth in technology and science fades, experts warn that deep-rooted issues in research culture and institutional incentives may hinder the country’s goal to become a global leader in innovation.

In a dialogue held last month at the Shanghai Academy of Natural Sciences (SANS), leading scholars discussed these challenges with Kevin Kelly, founding executive editor of Wired magazine. Lu Bai, a neurobiologist and president of SANS, explained that China had long leveraged Western scientific advances to achieve swift progress across multiple fields. However, this model is becoming less viable.

“The path is narrowing for two reasons: first, resistance from the external environment is growing; second, China has reached a stage where there’s not much left to simply replicate,” Lu said, according to a transcript published on July 27 by The Intellectual, a social media account he co-founded.

Lu and other scholars identified China’s rigid institutional system—which prioritizes metrics over creativity—and an ingrained deference to authority as core challenges slowing the country’s technological and scientific momentum.

Established in 2024, SANS is an independent, non-profit institute that provides scientists with stable, long-term support. Supervised by the Shanghai government, it is part of efforts to develop the city’s pilot zone for basic research.

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