The Science and Technology Revolution and Technology Foresight Think Tank (hereinafter referred to as “the Think Tank”) was established in April 2016, and it is the one of the first batch of think tanks approved by the Science and Technology Department of Guangdong Province. The think tank always focuses on the decision-making needs of the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee, the province’s major decisions on scientific and technological, the major scientific and technological reforms issues, and the social science and technology development directions, and it insists on tracking the cutting-edge technological innovation updates, and tries to provide theoretical recommendations and supports for the government to formulate scientific and technological policies and regulations through in-depth academic research.
The Think Tank is led by Professor and the PhD supervisor Zhang Zhengang of School of Administration of SCUT. The members of the research team consists of 11 members holding a senior professional title, five members holding a middle-level professional title, two members holding a junior professional title, and 18 enrolled PhD candidates. Their research interests cover the disciplines of economics, management, biology, materials, computer science, etc. The Think Tank also pays highly attention on continuous improving its internal management mechanism, and expand cooperation with governments and institutions, setting up Academic Committee and constructing its expert advisory panel. The research team of the Think Tank has undertook a total of 27 scientific research projects, including the major project, general project and youth projects of the National Social Science Foundation. Focusing on the development trend of science and technology, and the development of Sci & Tech industry in Guangdong Province, the Think Tank has organized on-site visit and investigation to Beijing BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd., and dozens of well-known enterprises, as a result, it has provided nearly 100 specific research reports to the government, and provided consultations for government to make science and technology decisions.
The Think Tank is dedicated to conduct research in four fields, including the new technology foreseeing methodological system construction combining subjective and objective indicators, innovation concept and emerging technology industry policy research, major industry technology foresight and mining, and promote enterprise innovation ability through technology foresight activities. In this regard, it is expected to serve the following three aspects according to relevant research outcomes produced in the above mentioned fields.
First, in the formulation of government policies, it intends to provide policy recommendations for the Guangdong provincial government in the future strategic technology selection, technology development strategy formulation and effective allocation of scientific and technological resources, through deep exploration of the core technology development direction of current strategic emerging industries;
Second, in terms of the cultivation of enterprise innovation capabilities, by strengthening the link between technology foresight activities and corporate innovation activities, and exerting the guiding role of technology foresight in the formulation process of developing the industrial technology roadmaps and enterprise innovation roadmaps, it is expected to play a guiding role in enhancing innovation ability of enterprises in industrial transformation and upgrading in Guangdong. Furthermore, it hopes to help Guangdong province to seize the opportunities in the development of strategic emerging industries, such as intelligent manufacturing and high-end equipment manufacturing.
Third, in terms of the development of scientific research activities, it intends to specify the research direction for applied research in universities and research institutes, strengthen the close contact between industry and universities in Guangdong Province. In addition, it is expected to promote an orderly development of the cooperation between industry, universities and research institutes, and enhance transformation of research results, as well as expand diversification resource of research funding in Guangdong Province.
