An institutionalized policy-making mechanism: China's return to techno-industrial policy

Technology and innovation policy in China shifted dramatically in 2003, returning to “techno-industrial policy” that involves direct government interventions to shape specific industrial sectors. This article precisely documents the shift and shows that it occurred through two successive waves of policy change. This policy shift was formulated through a policy process that, like others in China, has become increasingly institutionalized. The article introduces a general four-phase model that describes the structured policy process in China. In the case of innovation policy, this structured policy process facilitated a shift to a substantially more interventionist policy.