Accelerating marine science and technology innovation under great power competition: Challenges and recommendations

Authors

• Qingbin GUO, International Business School, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; Academy of Maritime Power Studies, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, ChinaFollow
• Yongsha XIONG, International Business School, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
• Shifang SUN, Chinese Association of Development Strategy Studies, Beijing 100089, ChinaFollow

Keywords

marine, science and technology innovation, great-power competition, construction of a maritime power

Abstract

Against the backdrop of intensifying great-power competition, the core issues of global technological competition and cooperation are increasingly converging on the marine domain. The oceans are progressively becoming a critical strategic sphere for national development and security. At present, China is steadily advancing towards its goal of becoming a maritime power, achieving historic leaps in technological innovation such as shipbuilding and deep-sea exploration. Nevertheless, the path ahead for China’s marine science and technology innovation will inevitably face severe international circumstances and competition from established global maritime powers. Based on a review of global and Chinese progress in marine science and technology innovation, this study identifies challenges such as the need for structural optimization in resource allocation, external dependence on certain core technologies, and a marine innovation ecosystem that requires strengthening. It proposes countermeasures and suggestions to accelerate the achievement of high-level self-reliance and self-strengthening in marine science and technology, aiming to provide decision-making references for promoting high-quality development of the marine economy and forging a path toward maritime prosperity and strength with Chinese characteristics.

First page

707

Last Page

714

Language

Chinese

Publisher

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.

References

1. 冷疏影, 乔方利, 张亮, 等. 全球海洋治理与国际合作的关键科学问题. 中国科学基金, 2024, 38(6): 928-933. Leng S Y, Qiao F L, Zhang L, et al. Key scientific and technical issues for global ocean governance and international cooperation. Bulletin of National Natural Science Foundation of China, 2024, 38(6): 928-933. (in Chinese)

2. Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (IOC‑UNESCO). Global Ocean Science Report: Charting Capacity for Ocean Sustainability. Paris: UNESCO Publishing, 2020.

3. 刘明. 世界海洋科技中长期发展趋势及其对中国的启示. 科技导报, 2025, 43(14): 34-41. Liu M. Research on the medium and longterm development trend of world marine science and technology and its enlightenment and suggestions for China. Science & Technology Review, 2025, 43(14): 34-41. (in Chinese)

4. 李大海, 吴立新, 陈朝晖. “透明海洋”的战略方向与建设路径. 山东大学学报（哲学社会科学版）, 2019, (2): 130-136. Li D H, Wu L X, Chen Z H. Strategic direction and construction path of transparent oceans. Journal of Shandong University (Philosophy and Social Sciences), 2019, (2): 130-136. (in Chinese)

5. 国家海洋信息中心. 世界深海活动进展报告2025. 北京: 国家海洋信息中心, 2025. National Marine Data and Information Center (NMDIC). World Deep-sea Activities Progress Report 2025. Beijing: NMDIC, 2025. (in Chinese)

6. IOC‑UNESCO. Global Ocean Observing System Status Report 2025. Paris: UNESCO Publishing, 2025.

7. 冯妮, 杨建民. 全球深海矿产资源开发进展与启示——以装备技术为核心. 太平洋学报, 2024, 32(8): 62-75. Feng N, Yang J M. Development of equipment technology for exploitation of marine mineral resources. Pacific Journal, 2024, 32(8): 62-75. (in Chinese)

8. 自然资源部第一海洋研究所. 国家海洋创新指数报告2025. 杭州: 自然资源部第一海洋研究所, 2025. First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources. National Ocean Innovation Index Report 2025. Hangzhou: First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, 2025. (in Chinese)

9. 习近平. 推动海洋经济高质量发展. 求是, 2026, (6): 4-6. Xi J P. Promoting high-quality development of the marine economy. Qiushi, 2026, (6): 4-6. (in Chinese)

10. 《求是》杂志编辑部. 走有中国特色向海图强之路. 求是, 2026, (6): 7-12. Editorial Department of Qiushi Journal. Embarking on the path to maritime power with Chinese characteristics. Qiushi, 2026, (6): 7-12. (in Chinese)

11. 崔维成, 邵鑫浩. 深海探测技术进展及未来发展趋势. 科技导报, 2025, 43(12): 38-54. Cui W C, Shao X H. Current progress and future development trends of deep-sea exploration technology. Science & Technology Review, 2025, 43(12): 38-54. (in Chinese)

12. 韩立民, 梁铄. 深海经济：建设基础、面临问题及发展路径. 东南学术, 2025, (4): 138-150. Han L M, Liang S. Deep-sea economy: Construction foundation, problems confronted and development path. Southeast Academic Research, 2025, (4): 138-150. (in Chinese)

13. 宁波, 沙志彬, 李晶, 等. 深海钻探技术现状及发展动态. (2025-10-10)[2026-03-12]. https://link.cnki.net/urlid/42.1874.P.20251010.1330.004. Ning B, Sha Z B, Li J, et al. The development status and development trends of deep-sea drilling technology. (2025-10-10)[2026-03-12]. https://link.cnki.net/urlid/42.1874.P.20251010.1330.004. (in Chinese)

14. 陈朝晖, 任翀, 刘增宏, 等. 我国深海Argo区域观测网成功完成“深海玄武”浮标首次批量布放. 海洋学研究, 2024, 42(1): 117-118. Chen Z H, Ren C, Liu Z H, et al. China’s deep-sea Argo regional observation network successfully completed the first batch deployment of “Shenhai Xuanwu” floats. Journal of Marine Sciences, 2024, 42(1): 117-118. (in Chinese)

15. 刘峰, 刘予, 宋成兵, 等. 中国深海大洋事业跨越发展的三十年. 中国有色金属学报, 2021, 31(10): 2613-2623. Liu F, Liu Y, Song C B, et al. Three decades’ development of China in deep-sea field. The Chinese Journal of Nonferrous Metals, 2021, 31(10): 2613-2623. (in Chinese)

16. 李毅能, 朱宇航, 彭世球, 等. 多目标海洋环境预报技术发展趋势和启示. 中国科学院院刊, 2026, 41(1): 107-119. Li Y N, Zhu Y H, Peng S Q, et al. Development trends and implications of muti-objective marine environmental forecasting technology. Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2026, 41(1): 107-119. (in Chinese)

17. 王凡, 张旭东, 任沂斌, 等. 基于人工智能技术的海洋智能预报研究进展. 地球科学进展, 2025, 40(2): 111-125. Wang F, Zhang X D, Ren Y B, et al. Research progress on ocean intelligent forecasting based on artificial intelligence technology. Advances in Earth Science, 2025, 40(2): 111-125. (in Chinese)

18. 自然资源部. 中国海洋统计年鉴2023. 北京: 海洋出版社, 2024. Ministry of Natural Resources of the People’s Republic of China. China Marine Economic Statistical Yearbook 2023. Beijing: China Ocean Press, 2024. (in Chinese)

19. 崔旺来, 胡子君, 钟海玥, 等. 中国海洋新材料产业技术创新能力的时空演变及驱动机制. 中国软科学, 2025, (7): 38-49. Cui W L, Hu Z J, Zhong H Y, et al. Spatiotemporal evolution and driving mechanism of technological innovation capability of China’s marine new material industry. China Soft Science, 2025, (7): 38-49. (in Chinese)

20. 孙雯悦, 廖斌. 浮力材料及其应用概述. 厦门科技, 2024, 30(1): 44-52. Sun W Y, Liao B. Overview of buoyancy materials and their applications. Xiamen Science & Technology, 2024, 30(1): 44-52. (in Chinese)

21. 张海龙,张少伟. 循环载荷作用下高强固体浮力材料力学性能试验研究. 复合材料科学与工程, 2023, (8): 72-77. Zhang H L, Zhang S W. Experimental study on mechanical properties of high strength solid buoyancy materials under cyclic loading. Composites Science and Engineering, 2023, (8): 72-77. (in Chinese)

Recommended Citation

GUO, Qingbin; XIONG, Yongsha; and SUN, Shifang (2026) "Accelerating marine science and technology innovation under great power competition: Challenges and recommendations," Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version): Vol. 41 : Iss. 4 , Article 8.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3724/j.issn.1000-3045.20260104002
Available at: https://bulletinofcas.researchcommons.org/journal/vol41/iss4/8