For China to realise its research and innovation potential the government may have to place greater trust in the academic community

After three decades of being the world's manufacturing powerhouse, China is now looking to science and technology to drive its economic future. However, a recent study suggests that China's higher education research environment faces numerous challenges that may hinder the country from realising its research and innovation potential; from the promotion of short-term thinking, to an excessive level of bureaucratic and governmental intervention. Xueying Han and Richard P. Appelbaum argue that for China to reach the next level of research and innovation, the central government may have to cede control and trust the academic community to take a more active role in guiding the country’s research direction.