A Study At Enhancing The Innovation Capacity Of Fujian Universities And Colleges On Science And Technology

At universities and colleges, science and technology intersects human resource. High education performs multiple functions, such as training personnel, serving the society, carrying out innovations of science and technology, or those of cultural inheritance. In particular, science and technology innovations are essential components of the regional innovation system in Fujian. In this open but complicated system, all universities and colleges across the province collaborate with local governments, local enterprises, research institutes, science intermediaries, and financial institutions. It also helps to promote regional developments and social progress. However, the capacity of independent innovation in Fujian is relatively weak, inadequate to meet with the demands of economic and social developments. It is therefore essential to construct a regional innovation system and enhance the innovation capacity of science and technology of Fujian universities and colleges.The thesis first reviews the literature on the development of science and technology innovations of high education, highlighting the significance of enhancing the capacity for such innovations to the construction of a regional innovation system in Fujian. The thesis then evaluates the innovation capacity by analyzing six factors:human resources on science and technology, research funds, research projects, research findings, patent applications, and research rewards. A comparison with other provinces and municipalities of Easter China reveals clear discrepancy between Fujian and other localities. Such discrepancy is manifest in the inadequate investment in research, the irrational allocation structure of research funds, the lack of a high-level platform for innovations, the relatively low rate of realization of research findings, and the lack of leading scholars. In particular, four obstacles hinder the development of such innovation capacity; that is, the inadequate investment on research, the low efficiency of fund using, and the negative impact of the internal and external environment of Fujian universities and colleges. The thesis proceeds to explore three kinds of innovations in detail and points out that innovations in Fujian mainly focus on knowledge innovations, with technological innovations as a secondary consideration. Finally, the thesis concludes with four suggestions to enhance the innovation capacity. First, we need increase research investment and improve allocation efficiency. Second, the province needs to breed key disciplines with local characteristics and accelerate the construction of both platform and team for science and technology innovations. Third, systematic and institutional reforms must be carried out to push forward the science and technology innovations. Finally, the thesis argues that the government must transform its functions so as to change the external environment for science and technology innovation in Fujian’s high education.