Government high-tech policy and its impact: a case of CAD technology in China

This paper focuses on CAD (computer-aided design) technology, one of the key fields under CIMS (computer-integrated manufacturing system) subject topic in the automation area, and discloses the Chinese Government policy's critical role in technological innovations. In addition, this paper analyses the nature of these high-tech firms created by academic researchers, and the key factors that lead to their successful evolution. It is based on the author's long-term business experiences, interviews and surveys from an influential group of corporate and academic leaders of Chinese CAD researches. This paper concludes that CAD innovations in China featured with government policy-intervened, university-industry collaborated. The study provides some new observations for debates and discussions to high-tech policy-makers in China and abroad and can benefit business managers seeking to understand the CAD environment in China. It also provides a foundation for further technology policy and innovation management research in China.