China’s 15th Five-Year Plan positions future industries as a core driver of long-term economic competitiveness. The plan identifies specific technology domains of quantum technology, biomanufacturing, hydrogen and fusion energy, brain–computer interfaces, embodied intelligence and 6G communications as the next wave of industrial growth. The emphasis is on building the foundations for commercialization, creating viable market applications and forming governance frameworks that allow these sectors to scale.

Why Early Positioning Matters

Competition in frontier technologies is intensifying. Although many technologies are still at a pre-commercial stage, the global landscape is already forming leaders and laggards. For China, early investment is viewed as essential to securing a position within the future value chain, reducing technological dependence and capturing the economic benefits of new industrial ecosystems. The goal is not simply research advancement but establishing the industrial capacity, supply chains and talent pipelines needed to support large-scale deployment.

Choosing the Right Development Priorities

Not all future industries can be developed simultaneously at equal strength. The plan acknowledges that resources, talent and infrastructure must be allocated in line with realistic competitive advantages. At the national level, priority fields are clearly defined: quantum computing and communication, next-generation biomanufacturing, clean hydrogen and fusion energy, advanced intelligence systems and 6G. These sectors are selected based on strategic relevance, industrialization potential and alignment with China’s long-term economic structure.
Regions are expected to differentiate their focus areas based on industrial foundations and scientific capabilities, reducing the risk of duplicated investment and overcapacity.

Reducing Uncertainty Through Targeted Policy Tools

Future industries carry high uncertainty in technology readiness, market acceptance and regulatory requirements. The plan outlines several mechanisms to manage this risk:

• Expanding venture capital and establishing risk-sharing mechanisms to address insufficient early-stage financing.
• Supporting parallel exploration of technology routes and business models to avoid premature lock-in and accelerate identification of scalable solutions.
• Strengthening application scenario development, enabling early testing and customer validation.
• Improving regulatory frameworks to provide clearer guidance for commercialization and cross-industry integration.
  These measures aim to shorten development cycles and reduce systemic barriers to industrialization.

Building a Competitive Industrial Ecosystem

A functioning ecosystem is essential for scaling future industries. Current bottlenecks include limited participation from upstream and downstream enterprises, insufficient collaboration networks and fragmented innovation resources. The plan calls for concentrating innovation capabilities within enterprises, expanding support for leading technology firms and accelerating the growth of small, specialized and high-performing companies. Cultivating potential unicorns and strengthening supply-chain coordination are viewed as critical steps toward building industrial clusters capable of competing globally.

Conclusion

China’s approach to future industries under the 15th Five-Year Plan represents a shift from broad policy intent to targeted industrial strategy. The plan focuses on technologies with clear long-term strategic value, emphasizes regional differentiation and applies policy tools specifically designed to reduce development risk. By strengthening ecosystems, improving governance and aligning investment with national priorities, China aims to convert frontier technologies into scalable economic drivers. This structured and pragmatic approach is intended to secure competitive advantage in the next phase of global industrial transformation.