Putting China in perspective: a comparative exploration of the ascent of the Chinese knowledge economy
本文比较中国与欧盟、日本、美国及巴西等新兴经济体在研发和专利方面的趋势，发现中国创新投入和产出已接近发达地区，但创新地理高度集中，依赖集聚效应，可能带来可持续性风险。
This article traces the ascent of China from knowledge economy laggard to world leader over the last two decades, using a comparative perspective. Chinese trends in R&D and patenting are compared to those of the countries of the ‘triad’ (the European Union, Japan and the US), as well as to those of other large emerging economies (Brazil, India, Mexico and South Africa). The analysis demonstrates how both in innovation inputs and outputs China reflects an innovation reality closer to that of the most developed areas of the world than to that of other emerging countries. However, the rapid ascent of Chinese innovation has generated a distinct set of territorial dynamics, with innovation much more geographically concentrated than elsewhere in the world and more reliant on agglomeration forces than on more traditional ‘innovative’ drivers. Such a distinct geography of innovation may have until now facilitated the innovation surge in China, but poses serious future risks in terms of the sustainability of the system.