Making Innovation the Core Attribute of High-Quality Urban Development
Making Innovation the Core Attribute of High-Quality Urban Development
Innovation is an inexhaustible driving force behind urban development and a powerful engine for high-quality growth. At the recent Central Urban Work Conference, seven key tasks for urban development in the coming period were outlined, among which "building vibrant and innovative cities" was prominently featured. For Changchun, which is at a critical stage of revitalization and development, making innovation the city's most distinctive feature is not only a necessary step in implementing the directives of the conference but also a strategic choice to overcome development challenges and achieve a leap in overall capacity.
A city's traits determine the quality of its development. For Changchun, the gene of innovation has long been woven into the urban fabric, and its dynamic pulse has become increasingly strong through development practices in recent years. The "Jilin-1" satellites set a world record for being the lightest ultra-large-width sub-meter optical remote sensing satellites. China's first self-developed full-element high-temperature superconducting electrodynamic suspension test system achieved its first suspension operation in Changchun. Changchun Changguang Boxiang UAV Co., Ltd. pioneered the world's first "tandem flying-wing vertical takeoff and landing UAV", leading industry upgrades. From the iterative upgrading of the automobile industry to the rapid rise of optoelectronic information, from the pursuit of excellence in high-end manufacturing to breakthrough innovations in biomedicine, each achievement vividly illustrates the spirit of innovation in Changchun—a blend of courage to make general reforms, wisdom to explore and innovate, and determination to break through constraints. This deeply rooted spirit of innovation is the intrinsic motivation for Changchun's sustained progress, enabling the city to stride confidently on the path of innovation toward even loftier goals.
While celebrating these fruitful achievements, we must also soberly recognize that there is still room for improvement in Changchun's innovation systems and mechanisms, the efficiency of result transformation, and the gathering of high-end talent. To truly make innovation the core attribute of high-quality urban development, we must adopt a global vision, plan scientifically for the forward-looking layout of innovation, and meticulously refine our approach. By prioritizing talent as the foundation, enterprises as the main actors, and systems as the guarantee, we can fully unleash the city's innovation vitality.
Talent-driven innovation is the foundation that must be strengthened. Innovation is, at its core, driven by talent. A global talent recruitment strategy should be implemented to widely attract talent and gather intellectual resources in key industries, disciplines, and fields. Market-oriented approaches and supply-side demand should be upheld to strengthen the cultivation and reserve of innovative talent in key areas. A diversified evaluation system should be established to enable the precise identification and recognition of various types of talent. Multiple forms of nurturing platforms should be developed by integrating industry-university-institute-user resources and creating diverse growth scenarios encompassing practice, exchange, and transformation. Furthermore, incentive and support mechanisms should be reinforced to establish a full-cycle service loop of "talent recruitment—talent utilization—talent development", continuously injecting talent-driven momentum into the high-quality urban development.
The principal role of enterprises in innovation should be strengthened to activate the innovation engine. As the main force in innovation and creation, enterprises must take center stage. Therefore, a market-oriented innovation system that deeply integrates industry, universities, and research institutes should be established, enabling enterprises to truly become the main actors of R&D investment, technological innovation, and application of results. Enterprises should take the initiative to enhance their independent innovation capabilities through intelligent upgrading and digital transformation, increase R&D investment in key and core technologies, and make breakthroughs in overcoming bottleneck technologies and developing independent brands. Additionally, strategic emerging industries should be vigorously cultivated, and the supporting role of technology-based backbone enterprises should be brought into full play to promote the transformation of economic development models and the upgrading of the industrial structure.
It is essential to take institutional innovation as a safeguard to optimize the innovation ecosystem. Innovation can only flourish in a sound institutional environment. In recent years, Changchun has advanced innovation by deepening the reform of "streamlining administration, delegating powers, and improving regulation and services", and by establishing platforms that connect industry, universities, research institutes, users, and financial capital. Looking ahead, it is even more necessary to uphold innovation-driven development as the goal, take the city's unique characteristics as the starting point, and propel progress through scientific and technological innovation and institutional innovation. Efforts should be made to deepen reforms of the scientific and technological system and the management system, improve talent mechanisms, break through conceptual bottlenecks and institutional barriers to innovation, and build an efficient, intelligent, and refined institutional environment that fully unleashes innovation vitality.
Source: Changchun Government Affairs Editor: Liu Jiadi
