Financing for Innovation in China

Technology and capital are two fundamental factors in economic growth; each and every technological and industrial revolution has gone hand in hand with new financial patterns since the First Industrial Revolution in Britain. As a latecomer, China is firmly committed to science and technology (S&T) innovation through innovative financial services. First, by combining fiscal and taxation policies with market capital, China has put in place its own financing system for S&T innovation. Second, fiscal and taxation policies play a fundamental and guiding role. Third, myriad innovative business models, such as “investment-lending-guarantee,” provide examples of diverse ways to support S&T activities through financial innovation. Fourth, corporate internal finance has become an important player in S&T innovation. Fifth, digital financial platforms have been playing an increasingly important role and created some new challenges. Sixth, much room is left for the capital market to play an even bigger role in S&T innovation.