26th Sino-US Political and Economic Forum Held 

26th Sino-US Political and Economic Forum: “Deconstructing the U.S. National Innovation System: Historical Evolution, Institutional Design, and Contemporary Challenges” Report Release and Seminar Held 

On August 20, 2026, the 26th Sino-U.S. Political and Economic Forum, hosted by the National Academy of Development and Strategy (NADS) at Renmin University of China, was livestreamed online. The forum was moderated by ZHAO Yong, Research Fellow at NADS and Professor at the School of Economics, Renmin University of China.

In Session I, HU Debao, Research Fellow at NADS and Professor at the School of Smart Governance, presented the report titled “Deconstructing the U.S. National Innovation System: Historical Evolution, Institutional Design, and Contemporary Challenges”.

The report focused on the following key themes:

1. Research Background and Problem Statement

2. Historical Evolution of the U.S. National Innovation System

3. Key Actors in the U.S. National Innovation System and Their Functional Roles

4. Application of U.S. Government Policy Instruments

5. Case Studies: How the U.S. Innovation System Drives the Development of Key Industries

6. Contemporary Challenges Facing the U.S. Innovation System

7. Implications for China: Policy Recommendations for China’s Science and Technology Innovation System

In Session II, the experts engaged in in-depth discussions on relevant topics and the content of the report.

JING Linbo, Research Fellow and Dean of the Institute of Evaluation Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, spoke highly of the report, noting that it provides a comprehensive and systematic review of the evolution, case studies, challenges, and latest developments of the U.S. national innovation system, while offering profound insights. MAO Jinsheng, former Level I Bureau Rank Official of the Intellectual Property Protection Department of the China National Intellectual Property Administration, noted that the report is comprehensive and clearly presented, offers distinctive insights, and provides valuable guidance for advancing the development of China’s innovation system in the new era. Professor WAN Yong, Vice Dean of the Law School at Renmin University of China, noted that the report provides a systematic review of the historical evolution, key actors and their functions, policy instruments, and representative case studies of the U.S. innovation system, offering an important reference for understanding U.S. innovation mechanisms and improving China’s institutional framework. Professor WANG Yuesheng of the School of Economics at Peking University shared his assessment of the report and several reflections it prompted, drawing on perspectives from the world economy and new institutional economics. YU Yong, former Chief Investment Officer of China Agricultural Reinsurance Corporation, offered insights from the perspective of a practitioner in finance and investment, noting that the report not only provides a comprehensive academic overview of the U.S. innovation system but also offers an incisive analytical framework for understanding the current strategic competition between China and the United States.

Proofreaders: WANG Wei, ZHAO Yong and HU Debao

Executive Editors: LIU Qi, HUANG Mijia, YANG Fanxin

Translator: ZHANG Yuqing

Web Editor: YANG Fanxin