Since 1999, China's Science and Technology Development Strategy Research Group has been evaluating and analyzing the innovation capabilities of all 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) for 25 consecutive years. On November 2nd, reporters from Yangcheng Evening News learned from the recently released "China's Regional Innovation Capacity Evaluation Report of 2024" (hereafter referred to as the report) that Guangdong has retained its top position, leading in China for eight consecutive years.

Why has Guangdong maintained its top position for eight consecutive years? The report points out that in recent years, Guangdong has effectively implemented an innovation-driven development strategy. The province has actively fostered and developed new quality productive forces while strengthening the role of enterprises. As a result, it has achieved significant success as a leading innovative province.

Guangdong is promoting the development of a strong education system, robust technological innovation, and a talented workforce, which collectively provide significant momentum for achieving high-level scientific independence. By leveraging the construction of the International Center for Science and Technology Innovation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the province is accelerating the establishment of a comprehensive innovation chain that includes basic research, technological breakthroughs, results transformation, technology finance, and talent support. As a result, Guangdong ranks first in China in several areas, including the number of researchers, effective invention patents, high-value invention patents, valid registered trademarks, and PCT international patent applications.

Meanwhile, Guangdong is establishing itself as a demonstration area for scientific and technological system reform, launching a three-year initiative to tackle these reforms. The province is innovatively developing a mission-oriented evaluation system for technology programs, and pilot projects for managing scientific achievements within positions. The national laboratories in Shenzhen and Guangzhou are operating successfully, and 15 key national laboratories have been approved for establishment. Guangdong is also creating an optimal environment for the transformation of scientific achievements, advancing the construction of a "1+9+N" system layout for the International Center for Science and Technology Innovation. Additionally, it has received approval to establish two national industrial innovation centers in the fields of biotechnology and nanotechnology.

In terms of foundational indicators, Guangdong had 972,492 full-time personnel in research and experimental development in 2022, ranking first in China. The province also granted 115,080 invention patents, again the highest in the nation, reflecting a growth of 25.24% compared to the previous year.

In terms of corporate innovation, Guangdong ranks first in China for several key metrics: the number of researchers in large industrial enterprises, the total internal expenditure on research and development activities by these enterprises, and the number of effective invention patents held by large industrial enterprises.

Additionally, Guangdong leads in various indicators, including the number of enterprises engaged in e-commerce transactions, the number of mobile phone users, mobile internet access traffic, total import and export value categorized by destination and source, education funding expenditure, the number of individuals aged six and above with a college degree (based on sampling), the number of high-tech enterprises, regional GDP, value added by the tertiary sector, sales revenue from new high-tech products, and employment in high-tech enterprises.

又是第一！广东区域创新能力连续8年领跑全国

自1999年以来，中国科技发展战略研究小组已经连续25年对全国31个省（自治区、直辖市）创新能力进行评价分析。11月2日，羊城晚报记者从最新公布的《中国区域创新能力评价报告2024》（下称《评价报告》）中获悉，广东蝉联第一，连续8年领跑全国。

广东缘何能连续8年位居第一？《评价报告》分析指出，近年来，广东深入落实创新驱动发展，积极构建培育和发展新质生产力，强化企业的主体地位，在高水平创新型省份方面取得显著成效。

其中，广东一体推进教育强省、科技创新强省、人才强省建设，为高水平科技自立自强释放强大动能。以粤港澳大湾区国际科技创新中心建设为牵引，加快构建“基础研究+技术攻关+成果转化+科技金融+人才支撑”全过程创新链，研发人员数量、发明专利有效量、高价值发明专利拥有量、有效注册商标量、PCT国际专利申请量均居全国首位。

同时，广东打造科技体制改革示范地，启动科技体制改革三年攻坚，创新构建使命导向的科技计划评价体系，职务科技成果管理改革试点深入推进。鹏城、广州国家实验室全面顺利运行，获批组建15家全国重点实验室。打造科技成果转化最佳地，推进粤港澳大湾区国家技术创新中心“1+9+N”体系布局建设，在生物、纳米领域获批建设2家国家产业创新中心。

在基础指标上，2022年，广东研究与试验发展全时人员当量为972492人，排名居全国第1位；发明专利授权数为115080件，排名居全国第1位，较去年增长25.24%。

在企业创新方面，规模以上工业企业研发人员数、规模以上工业企业研发活动经费内部支出总额、规模以上工业企业拥有有效发明专利数等均居全国首位。

此外，有电子商务交易活动的企业数、移动电话用户数、移动互联网接入流量、按目的地和货源地划分进出口总额、教育经费支出、6岁及以上人口中大专以上学历人口数 ( 抽样数 )、高新技术企业数、地区GDP、第三产业增加值、高技术产业新产品销售收入、高新技术企业就业人数等诸多指标，均居全国首位。

文 | 记者 黎秋玲 陈晓楠
翻译 | 林佳岱
英文审校 | 王枥焓