How China is setting the standard for innovation
China’s New Normal by Pascal Coppens
Of this book, I only found a Dutch version. But the information is too interesting not to share.
As an experienced storyteller, the author tells about what I feel is his passion: China. And what a story it is. China was lagging behind the West in many areas, but not in one area: the decisiveness to close the gap with the leading group – the West – from the peloton and to be a leader. To do so, it makes makes huge investments. And it runs the necessary (well-considered) risks.
A typical thing for the whole book that stands out comes to the foreword with a quote from a conversation between Henry Kissinger and Zhou Enlai. “What is your opinion on the French Revolution”, the American asked. The Prime Minister replied with “It is too early to tell”. This sets one of the undertones of the book. In China, people think far ahead. The government is already making plans for the future of 2121.
China’s New Normal explains how China was lagging behind in 8 areas where it is in the process of surpassing the West: Security, Media & Entertainment, Retail, Finance & Insurance, Mobility, Manufacturing, Health and Education. Eight social aspects where Cyber, Artificial Intelligence and Robotics go hand in hand to be innovative and become the market leader.
You can believe that this is not a coincidence, because the Chinese government responds to the needs of the market to create a favorable macro ecosystem. In addition, it is already making plans to become a world leader in 10 additional areas in the coming decades: new advanced information technology, automation and robots, space and aviation, shipping and logistics, rail traffic, alternative energy vehicles, energy supply, agricultural technology, new materials, life sciences.
The West can respond in two ways:
- It is trying to slow down China by isolating it, making it stronger and more independent
- It cooperates with the evolution in China, and in turn tries to take a piece of the cake from their market, just as it may want a serious bite out of the cake in our markets.
To this end, the author of China’s New Normal gives eight thought patterns that are common in China. Knowledge that we in the West can benefit from if we make it our own. Especially when it comes to doing business with China, as well as learning to think about the day after tomorrow, not just about tomorrow.
Let’s learn to think about the world seven generations from now. China is leading the way. And it’s fast!
Title: China’s New Normal – Hoe China de standaard zet voor innovatie, Author: Pascal Coppens, Publisher: Pelckmans Pro, ISBN: 9789463371940