Sci-Tech

The intelligent economy is deeply reshaping the global competitive landscape

2026-05-06   

The intelligent economy is becoming an important field in the new round of international competition, and its development significance is increasingly prominent. This year, the inclusion of "building a new form of intelligent economy" in the government work report marks that this field has risen to a national strategic priority. Artificial intelligence, computing power, and data are becoming important components of a country's core competitiveness, and their level of development not only reflects economic strength, but is also closely related to national security and institutional discourse power. The intelligent economy is an important factor affecting the global innovation landscape, which is undergoing profound restructuring. The intelligent economy plays an increasingly important role in the new round of technological revolution. Throughout history, technological revolutions have often accompanied the evolution of the global economic landscape. The depth and breadth of the changes brought about by the current intelligent economy are profoundly affecting production methods and industrial forms, as well as enriching the connotation of national competitiveness. Countries with advanced computing power, massive data, and cutting-edge algorithm capabilities form new comparative advantages in their development, which often have cumulative effects. Leaders can attract global talent and participate in standard setting, while latecomers need to make more efforts to catch up. Currently, major economies around the world are promoting the smart economy as a strategic priority. The United States relies on its technology companies to maintain a leading position in areas such as infrastructure and high-end chips. Europe focuses on building its intelligent economic governance system through ethical standards and regulatory rules. In the face of this pattern, it should be noted that the level of development of the intelligent economy will greatly affect China's position in the future global innovation landscape, which is not only related to development space but also to strategic guarantees. The autonomy of underlying technologies is an important foundation for participating in global competition. The global development of intelligent economy is constantly extending from the application layer to the underlying technologies, and the autonomy of core technologies has become an important foundation for participating in international competition. Over the past decade, China has accumulated significant advantages in areas such as mobile payments and smart logistics, thanks to its super large market and rich application scenarios. This has expanded the market space for the development of the smart economy and created favorable conditions for the improvement of underlying technologies. At the same time, it should be noted that the development at the application level cannot replace the continuous enhancement of underlying capabilities. High end computing chips, advanced process technology, basic software frameworks, and open source ecosystems for artificial intelligence are still important areas that need to be broken through. In the process of developing the intelligent economy, countries and enterprises that master the underlying architecture often occupy more important positions in the industrial chain and form their own advantages through technological accumulation and ecological construction. In this context, steadily enhancing the independent capabilities of key core technologies is not only an inherent requirement for promoting high-quality industrial development, but also an important measure to ensure development resilience. To participate in global cooperation and competition, a solid foundation of core competencies is required. Promoting the independent development of underlying technologies is not about closing off, but about providing stronger support for higher-level open cooperation. Only by continuously strengthening the industrial foundation can we better grasp development opportunities and achieve steady development in the complex and ever-changing international environment. Data and rules are important areas of global smart economy governance. As the fundamental element of smart economy, the improvement of its governance rules is of great significance for promoting the healthy development of smart economy. Various countries have formed different governance approaches based on their own national conditions regarding the collection, use, flow, and protection of data. The United States has formed a market driven data flow mechanism based on its global layout of technology companies. The European Union has established a data governance framework based on the General Data Protection Regulation, with a focus on protecting individual rights. Under the principle of balancing development and security, China has gradually established a system that covers data security, personal information protection, and cross-border flow management. The coexistence of different governance models reflects the differentiated choices of countries in promoting the development of intelligent economy, and also reflects the complexity and diversity of international cooperation in the field of data governance. The differences in rules to some extent affect the flow direction and value realization path of data elements, and also constitute the institutional background for countries to communicate and explore together in the field of intelligent economy. For China, steadily advancing in the field of data governance requires not only continuous improvement of domestic data infrastructure systems to create a favorable environment for the compliant and efficient utilization of data elements, but also active participation in the exchange and cooperation of international data governance rules, strengthening dialogue on issues such as cross-border data flow, artificial intelligence ethics, and algorithm governance, and promoting the formation of more consensus. By actively participating in international rule coordination, it can not only create more convenient conditions for Chinese enterprises to carry out international cooperation, but also play a constructive role in global intelligent economic governance. Strategic balance capability is an important guarantee for the steady development of intelligent economy. In the context of profound changes in the current international situation, the development of intelligent economy needs to seek a balance between open cooperation and independent development. The intelligent economy has a natural global interconnectivity attribute, and the global layout of computing infrastructure, cross-border flow of innovative elements, and deep coupling between technological standards and international markets all determine that countries need to maintain an open and cooperative attitude in promoting the development of the intelligent economy. At the same time, developing solid core competencies in key areas is also an important foundation for ensuring the sustainable and healthy development of the industry. This issue of balanced development is a common challenge faced by countries in the era of intelligent economy. While promoting technological innovation, the United States also emphasizes the protection of core technologies; The EU is committed to building a governance framework that aligns with its values while promoting data flow. For China, it is necessary to balance different aspects: steadily enhance independent innovation capabilities in key areas such as underlying computing power and basic software; Maintain an open and inclusive attitude towards application platforms and industrial ecosystems, and actively participate in international exchanges and cooperation; At the level of standards and rules, strengthen communication and coordination with the international community, and promote the formation of a more inclusive cooperation pattern. This comprehensive and dynamically balanced development approach not only conforms to the inherent laws of global interconnectivity in the intelligent economy, but also reflects a pragmatic choice for steady development in complex environments. By continuously enhancing its independent innovation capabilities, deepening open cooperation, and actively participating in international rule coordination, China's intelligent economy will move forward on a more solid foundation. In the face of the deepening development trend of the intelligent economy, it is necessary to promote it with a systematic thinking approach, continuously exert efforts in key areas, and promote the high-quality and sustainable development of the intelligent economy. Firstly, strengthen investment in basic research and tackle key core technologies. Focusing on key areas such as high-end chips, basic software, and artificial intelligence frameworks, we will promote better integration between efficient markets and proactive governments, leverage the leading role of national strategic scientific and technological forces, and improve the coordination mechanism of the entire chain of basic research, technological breakthroughs, and achievement transformation with patient capital as support. Establish a long-term investment mechanism that adapts to the characteristics of the intelligent economy, guide enterprises to steadily increase their research and development investment in underlying technologies, and provide sustained impetus for innovative development. Secondly, accelerate the construction of a high-level data governance system. Improve the basic systems of data ownership, trading, and income distribution, explore the establishment of a unified national market for the circulation of data elements, and promote the effective allocation of data elements under the premise of compliance. In the field of cross-border data flow, actively participate in international rule coordination and promote the formation of an international governance framework that balances security and development. Strengthen the ethical and algorithmic governance of artificial intelligence, establish an agile governance mechanism that adapts to the laws of technological development, effectively prevent risks while ensuring innovation vitality, and create a stable and predictable institutional environment for the development of the intelligent economy. Thirdly, optimize the global layout and open cooperation of the intelligent economy. While consolidating innovative cooperation with developed countries, we should actively expand the space for smart economic cooperation with emerging market countries and countries along the the Belt and Road, and build a diversified international cooperation network. Support Chinese enterprises to participate in the formulation of international standards, and contribute more Chinese wisdom in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence ethics, automatic driving safety, and industrial Internet architecture. Build a talent introduction and training system with international competitiveness, attract global intelligent economy talents to come to China for exchange and development, and form a good situation of talent aggregation. (Looking into the New Era)

Edit:Momo Responsible editor:Chen zhaozhao

Source:Economic Information Daily

Special statement: if the pictures and texts reproduced or quoted on this site infringe your legitimate rights and interests, please contact this site, and this site will correct and delete them in time. For copyright issues and website cooperation, please contact through outlook new era email:lwxsd@liaowanghn.com

Recommended Reading Change it

Links