The recently concluded Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China has set the major socioeconomic objectives for the 15th Five-year Plan period (2026–2030), one of which is substantial improvements in scientific and technological self-reliance and strength. This policy directive underscores that technological prowess is not merely an economic imperative but a critical underpinning of national power, security, and sovereignty in an era of intense geopolitical competition. As such, how will China’s pursuit of this goal reshape its domestic innovation governance, its position in global value chains, and the dynamics of international technology standards and governance?

This special issue thus invites scholarly contributions that move beyond technical analyses to explore the drivers, mechanisms, and implications of building a more self-reliant and robust science and technology ecosystem. We welcome interdisciplinary approaches that sit at the intersection of economics, political science, international relations, and public policy. The topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

Ÿ   · China’s role in shaping global rules for digital governance, AI ethics, and critical technology standards

Ÿ   · Integrated advancement in technological and industrial innovation

Ÿ   · The evolution of policy tools in mobilizing resources for strategic technologies

Ÿ   · The digital transformation of traditional industries

Ÿ   · Corporate strategies for navigating innovation, supply chains, and geopolitical risks

Ÿ   · Technological sovereignty in other economies from a comparative perspective

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

The deadline for submission is December 31, 2025. Papers should be submitted online at the official website of the journal: www.tandfonline.com/reps. When submitting your paper, please make it clear that this is a candidate for the Special Issue on “Technological Prowess and China’s Innovation Strategy”. The detailed submission guideline and reference style are available at the official website. All submissions will be peer reviewed.

It would be highly appreciated if you could kindly forward this Call for Papers to colleagues and others whom you think may have an interest in this topic. For any enquiries, please contact the Editorial Office at journal@ruc.edu.cn.