Innovation and education keys to the future

In a rare interview last week, Ren Zhengfei, founder and chief executive officer of Huawei, stressed the urgency of improving education quality in the countryside and importance of fundamental research to innovation. 21st Century Business Herald comments:

Editor’s note:

Speaking with the media in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, Ren touched on two pressing challenges facing China: the comparatively low quality of rural education and a widespread indifference to fundamental research.

Although, the government attaches great significance to improving the education quality and system, and spurring innovations, particularly those that can be commercialized quickly, the lack of input into rural education and the shortage of good teachers means nearly half of the nation’s children at schooling age cannot realize their potential. Most of them give up their schooling dream shortly after attending school, realizing that working as farmer or a migrant worker like their parents after finishing nine years of compulsory education is their unchangeable fate.

Ren is correct in pointing out an ugly but real fact that the quality of rural teachers is too low to ensure their students can be better than the teachers themselves.

Also, Ren puts his cards on the table by speaking frankly about the nation’s indifference to, if not ignorance of, fundamental research, as many consider fundamental research to be less productive and rewarding, as it is far from industrialization and commercialization.

But the industrialization histories of the developed economies all point to a common characteristic — all of them pay special attention to fundamental research, which is the foundation for so-called commercial or industrial innovations.

China should abstain from seeking quick success and instant benefits and increase its input in fundamental research, be more forgiving of failures and more inclusive in its talent and innovation assessment systems.

Besides, as Ren said, although self-innovation is important, particularly in the fields where foreign countries intentionally exclude China, the country should be more open to international cooperation in innovation and strengthen its intellectual property rights protection.

The media should demonstrate more professionalism in reporting new technologies and research, avoiding misleading the public and instilling unfounded optimism, or creating a fantasy of the finishing line that is too far from the starting line.