China is accelerating its push to become a global innovation powerhouse. There are three international technological innovation centers at the heart of the strategy: Beijing, Shanghai, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. At the same time, China is doubling down on “industries of the future” -- from humanoid robots and quantum computing to brain-computer interfaces and 6G. Why is China prioritizing these frontier technologies as new engines of growth? How do China’s three innovation hubs differ in function and strategy? And how do they work together to help China move up the global innovation value chain?

Biz Talk host Zhao Yang talked with Yan Liang, Professor of Economics, Willamette University; Qu Qiang, Fellow of Belt and Road Research Center at Minzu University of China; Andy Mok, Professor at Beijing Foreign Studies University.