BEIJING, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- As chairman of a world-leading solar power enterprise and also a deputy to China's top legislature, Gao Jifan is tasked with offering strategic insights for national policymakers on the industry's high-quality development.
The 60-year-old entrepreneur from east China's Jiangsu Province said his dual identity has made him better understand the crucial role that sci-tech innovation plays in driving the growth of the photovoltaic (PV) industry.
When participating in deliberations with President Xi Jinping and other national lawmakers from Jiangsu during last year's "two sessions," or the annual meetings of China's top legislature and top political advisory body, Gao explained how his Changzhou-based company, Trina Solar, had achieved greater self-reliance and innovation strength through decades of dedicated research.
Xi was particularly interested in the State Key Laboratory of Photovoltaic Science and Technology, which is led by Gao's firm. After inquiring about the lab, Xi emphasized the importance of sci-tech innovation in coordinating the upgrade of traditional industries, the expansion of emerging industries, and the cultivation of industries for the future.
Sci-tech innovation has consistently been a hot topic in discussions that Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, has engaged in with lawmakers and political advisors including science academicians, internet entrepreneurs, military officers and sportswear manufacturers.
He has underscored the need to step up independent and original innovation, and to foster growth drivers for new quality productive forces. Such insights have also been evident in his speeches at previous "two sessions" on subjects from the revitalization of old industrial bases to the establishment of free trade zones.
During an inspection tour of Jiangsu in 2017, Xi said that innovation is the source of an enterprise's core competitiveness, and that "critical technologies cannot be begged for or bought."
The unwavering commitment to innovation is exactly what contributes to his company's success, said Gao. His company had innovated a technology that extended the warranty period of PV modules from 15 years to 30 years, which ultimately became an international standard.
Gao recalled tough days when the entire sector was struggling with losses, after anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations had been launched by certain Western countries against China's PV industry in the 2010s.
When other companies were still focusing on cost competitiveness, Gao engaged in innovation and began establishing the state key laboratory. He has invested over 23 billion yuan (about 3.21 billion U.S. dollars) into research, leading to significant breakthroughs in crystalline silicon cells and perovskite technologies, which are key frontier areas for the industry.
"All expenditure can be cut, except for the R&D investment," he said.
After years of relentless efforts, his company's patented technologies have greatly improved solar cell conversion efficiency, consistently setting new world records.
Since achieving success in his own business, Gao has actively fostered collaboration within the industry. His company has worked with 18 upstream and downstream enterprises across the industrial chain to establish a photovoltaic manufacturing innovation center, solidifying consensus among domestic competitors that innovation drives development.
Gao told Xinhua that his proposals during last year's "two sessions" focused on curbing low-price competition, regulating market order, and safeguarding innovation through legislation. His suggestions garnered attention from other lawmakers. In December last year, a draft revision to the Anti-Unfair Competition Law was submitted to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for deliberation. It is expected to promote a fairer market environment for all business entities.
The PV industry's commitment to innovation reflects China's broader push to prioritize technological advancement.
In recent years, China has steadily increased its R&D spending, with total investment surpassing 3.6 trillion yuan in 2024, an 8.3 percent year-on-year increase. China also rose to the 11th place on the 2024 Global Innovation Index -- having climbed 18 spots over the past decade -- and led globally with 26 of the top 100 science and technology clusters.
The renewable energy sector has seen remarkable achievements, maintaining a double-digit annual growth rate. Solar power has emerged as the most prominent segment, with its installed capacity increasing more than 180 times since 2013. Photovoltaics, along with lithium-ion batteries and new energy vehicles, are among the "new three" drivers of the country's economic growth.
Additionally, China has reinforced the principal role of enterprises in innovation, and supported capable private companies in leading national initiatives to make breakthroughs in major technologies. Tech enterprises like Gao's are now shouldering greater expectations.
"Private enterprises should strive to contribute more to promoting sci-tech innovation, cultivating new quality productive forces, and modernizing the industrial system," Xi said during a symposium on private enterprises in February.
Xi's words resonated with Gao, who said his company will strive to be a pathfinder, leader and promoter of the high-quality development of China's PV industry and remain committed to making more contributions to global sustainable, green and low-carbon development. ■
