What are China’s ‘future industries’? And why they matter in the global tech race

From humanoids to quantum computing, Beijing wants to reshape its economy – and lead the world in next-gen technologies

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China has made huge advances in humanoid robotics in recent years – now hosting more than half of the world’s publicly traded firms in the sector, according to Morgan Stanley. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 9:00am, 13 Jul 2025Updated: 9:35am, 13 Jul 2025

As the dust barely settles on “Made in China 2025”, Beijing is intensifying its quest for technological supremacy with a focus on “future industries” amid its escalating rivalry with the United States.

Authorities are pushing boundaries in their pursuit of a new growth model centred on technological breakthroughs and industrial upgrades.

What are “future industries”?

First introduced by President Xi Jinping in 2020, the term refers to sectors with foundational technologies still in their infancy but expected to possess enormous potential.

The 2021-25 Five-Year Plan highlighted brain-inspired intelligence, quantum information, gene technology, future networks, deep-sea and aerospace development and hydrogen energy and storage as areas where China aims to secure an early lead.

That list is now expanding, as the government gradually adds new priority sectors.

In 2024, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) released guidelines identifying target areas including humanoid robots, 6G network equipment, brain-computer interfaces, large-scale AI data centres and next-generation large aircraft.

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