A Comparative Study of National Innovation Systems in the United States and the Soviet Union and Its Implications for China
Sun Leihua1,2, He Haiyan1, Song Tianyu3, Zhang Yadong4, Liang Zheng2
1. Greater Bay Area Institute of Digital Economy and Science & Technology Collaborative Innovation,Zhuhai 519088,China; 2. China Institute for Science and Technology Policy,Tsinghua University,Beijing 100084,China; 3. Beijing Institute of Technology,Zhuhai 519088,China; 4. School of Economics,Beijing Institute of Technology,Beijing 100081,China
Abstract：The intensifying scientific and technological competition between China and the United States hinges on the contest between their national innovation systems.The historical U.S.-Soviet rivalry offers a critical case for examining the underlying dynamics of great-power scientific and technological competition.Existing research,however,has largely focused on the U.S.innovation system,with insufficient attention to its Soviet counterpart and a lack of systematic comparative analysis.To address this gap,this study constructs a“dual-cycle”theoretical framework from the dual perspectives of internal construction and external competition,encompassing dimensions such as actor structure,interaction patterns,institutional arrangements,and competitive dynamics.From the internal perspective,it systematically compares the U.S.model of“decentralized plurality and market coupling”with the Soviet model of“vertical centralization and plan-driven linkage”,analyzing their respective advantages,limitations,and adaptation conditions to reveal the“internal cycle”mechanism.From the competitive perspective,it examines how each system formulated and executed strategies based on its internal characteristics and how their interactions reciprocally shaped the systems'evolutionary paths,elucidating the“external cycle”and the integrated“dual-cycle”mechanism.Building on this analysis,the study identifies the main challenges facing China's national innovation system in the context of the new technological revolution and intensified strategic competition.Finally,it proposes insights and recommendations for strengthening China's system,focusing on enhancing strategic control,fostering synergy among actors,solidifying foundational innovation,deepening educational reform,and balancing countermeasures with international cooperation.The findings aim to provide theoretical and practical references for advancing high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and improving China's national innovation system in the new era.
孙磊华, 何海燕, 宋天宇, 张亚东, 梁正. 美苏国家创新系统比较研究及对中国的启示[J]. 中国科技论坛, 2026(3): 160-169.
Sun Leihua, He Haiyan, Song Tianyu, Zhang Yadong, Liang Zheng. A Comparative Study of National Innovation Systems in the United States and the Soviet Union and Its Implications for China. , 2026(3): 160-169.
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