China: State Council published outline of 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development (2026-2030)

On 14 March 2026, the State Council published the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development (2026–2030). The framework outlines measures to develop the industrial system, with a focus on technological capacity and production quality. It introduces provisions for industrial regulation, including price governance and industry self-discipline, and addresses competitive dynamics related to large-scale, lower-cost production. The plan supports the development of emerging sectors such as next-generation information technology, robotics, and biopharmaceuticals, and includes measures for infrastructure development, including 6G innovation and an integrated national computing network. It also provides measures to support industrial innovation, including intellectual property protection and the use of regulatory sandboxes for new business models. In addition, the framework includes steps to adjust market access in the service sector and promote links between services and manufacturing. It sets out a multi-level approach to funding basic research, with increased contributions from public and private sources, and includes provisions to support scientific capacity and enterprise participation in technological innovation, including through tax incentives and public procurement.