Global Times examines investing in future industries now

Global Times published an analysis on Jan. 3, 2026, that examined why governments and organizations were allocating resources to future industries now and why those allocation decisions mattered for long-term capabilities.

The piece noted that technologies described as future industries remained less mature and carried greater uncertainty than traditional and emerging industries, and that some observers saw them as “expensive” and unable to deliver short-term returns. It cited historical debates over steam engines, electricity and computers and reported current measures of national research capacity.

The article said quantum computing had the potential to rewrite existing computing systems, that controllable nuclear fusion was viewed as a solution to ultimate energy, and that brain-computer interfaces offered hope to millions of patients. It also noted that cycles for technology maturation, commercialization and product iteration had shortened and that disruptive breakthroughs often required long-term accumulation and iteration rather than immediate results.

It described prior policy actions and planning: national major science and technology projects over a decade ago enabled rapid progress in 5G; stable policy support and market cultivation supported the development of new-energy vehicles; more than 30 years of continuous development produced the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System. The Recommendations for the 15th Five-Year Plan proposed forward-looking planning, diverse technology roadmaps, typical application scenarios, feasible business models and market regulation rules, and local governments introduced investment plans and reform measures that emphasized adapting to local conditions.

“expensive” and “useless,” said Global Times. “China has become one of the economies with the fastest growing innovation capabilities,” said Xi Jinping. The article also used the phrase “sowing seeds for the future,” said Global Times.

The article said policymakers proposed forward-looking planning, regional adaptation, diversified investment and risk-sharing mechanisms, and room for trial and error to support a tiered layout and sequential development alongside traditional and emerging industries.