China will accelerate efforts for greater achievements in science and technology in 2026 and build world-class sci-tech innovation engines, according to a draft government work report submitted to the country's top legislature for deliberation on March 5.

The report reviewed that dynamic, innovation-driven, and high-quality development had been achieved over the past year. New quality productive forces grew steadily, and numerous new advances were made in science and technology.

China led the way in the research, development, and application of artificial intelligence (AI), biomedicine, robotics, and quantum technology.

In 2026, China will drive advances in original innovation and breakthroughs in core technologies in key fields, deepen reform of research institutes and the evaluation system, as well as promote sci-tech literacy among the public, according to the report.

Integration of technological and industrial innovation is underscored. The report said China will build three international centers for sci-tech innovation (Beijing — the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, Shanghai — the Yangtze River Delta, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area) and turn them into world-class innovation engines.

The principal role of enterprises in innovation will be reinforced.

The draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan was also submitted, detailing the main objectives and major tasks for the 2026-2030 period.

In terms of innovation, China projects an annual average increase of at least 7 percent in nationwide R&D spending.

The leading role of sci-tech innovation is underscored in pursuing high-quality development. Technological innovation will be encouraged in areas including multi-modal AI, AI agent, embodied AI and swarm intelligence, and artificial general intelligence development paths will be explored.

Extraordinary measures will be taken to drive decisive breakthroughs across full chains in integrated circuits, machine tools, high-end instruments, basic software, advanced materials and bio-manufacturing, the plan said.