China’s High-speed Rail Mode Of Goverment-led Integrated Innovation Research

The project of high-speed railway is highly praised by the world, which is quiteunusual in science field. When we take a close look at the development process ofhigh-speed railway, the government plays different roles during the time. In earlyperiod, only the Ministry of Railways invested on the project and the project was runby a sub-system of the Ministry of Railways. Later, the investment came from multi-departments and the project was implemented by the whole innovation system ofChina. In short, participation of the project changed from technology-only to multi-organizations. According to the analysis of the project, the success of high-speedrailway comes from the newly designed system, integrated innovation leaded by thegovernment. It was the government’s call that the project successfully avoided thedeficiency of “import-lag-import-lag” and of losing market without gaining coretechnology. Integrated innovation lead by the government is the newly designed formof innovation made by socialist market economy system. The major form ofintegrated innovation leaded by the government is that the government integratessources nationwide, by government and market dispose, to implement innovationproject. The new innovation system comes out as the basic condition of Railways andChina. Integrated innovation leaded by the government, which is far more differentfrom western countries’ innovation system, is created because of the unique socialsystem and culture of China. The project of high-speed railway can be a typicalexample of technology catch-up, but might not be valid everywhere. Integratedinnovation leaded by the government should be used only when market failurehappens. Achieving the balance point is the most important part in integratedinnovation leaded by the government. Besides, the government should quit in timeand urge revolution of innovation industry.This study was to detect the diversity of different social systems design andselective technology under development path.To explore the ways and boundaries ofgovernment intervening technology. This was of merely academic interest to researchtheories on philosophy of technology and technical sociology. To hold a mirror topropel the strategic new industry in China forward.It was of practicable significanceto study this project.