Scenario Innovation: A Key Driver for China’s Industrial Competitive Edge in the 14th Five-Year Plan Period

As a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation accelerates, new technologies, industries, formats and models are emerging continuously. The Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) deploys the cultivation and expansion of emerging and future industries, proposing to “strengthen the supply of original technologies, accelerate the construction of application scenarios and ecological systems, foster more pillar and leading industries, and build new advantages in industrial development”, according to People’s Daily.

Scenarios serve as a bridge connecting technology and industry, linking R&D and the market, and also an important carrier for promoting in-depth integration of technological and industrial innovation. They not only support the cultivation of emerging and future industries but also inject strong momentum into the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, playing a vital role in accelerating the building of new industrial competitive advantages.

The 14th Five-Year Plan period marks a crucial stage for China to accelerate the construction of a modern industrial system. Domestically, industrial transformation is accelerating towards intelligence, greenization and integration; internationally, the global industrial division of labor is adjusting rapidly. To deeply participate in global industrial cooperation, China must consolidate advantages, break bottlenecks and strengthen weak links to gain strategic initiative in fierce international competition.

Scenario innovation offers opportunities to build new industrial advantages in multiple ways. Firstly, it promotes industrial integration to release multiplier effects. For traditional industries, smart factories and unmanned workshops have facilitated the shift from extensive management to refined operations. For emerging industries, open demonstration scenarios verify technological feasibility, attracting upstream and downstream enterprises. A typical case is Yongchuan Science and Technology Film Studio in Chongqing, which built China’s first digital intelligent set workshop, increasing shooting efficiency by 55% and reducing costs by 90%, according to Douyin.

Secondly, it gives full play to China’s advantages of a complete industrial system and a super-large market. On the supply side, China’s comprehensive industrial system provides a fertile ground for scenario innovation. On the demand side, the expanding consumer market releases potential needs, allowing new technologies to grow. “Our one-stop service platform enables film crews to complete location scouting and cast selection online, saving time and costs,” said Li Ming, a staff member of Yongchuan Film Industry Service Center.

Thirdly, it helps break technological bottlenecks to seize the global industrial high ground. Facing technological blockades, scenario innovation promotes collaboration between industry, academia and research to tackle core technologies, building an independent and secure modern industrial system.

To promote scenario innovation, China is breaking barriers, fostering regional characteristic scenarios, strengthening institutional guarantees and improving factor support. State-owned enterprises play a leading role in opening up scenarios, while local regions develop distinctive practices based on their advantages. With these efforts, scenario innovation will effectively support the cultivation of new quality productive forces and help China build a stronger industrial competitive edge.