Al-Jazarī Lecture: China’s Journey to Innovation 

TIDE hosted Professor Xue Lan for the 3rd Annual Al-Jazarī Lecture on Innovation and Development, an event that traced China’s long-term transformation into a global innovation leader. In his lecture, Professor Xue emphasised that innovation is the result of sustained institutional building rather than sudden breakthroughs, drawing on China’s historical investments in universities, research systems, and policy reform. 

The lecture highlighted how reform, openness, and experimentation reinforced each other over decades, enabling China to move from manufacturing-led growth to advanced innovation across multiple sectors. Professor Xue also stressed the importance of international cooperation and openness to global knowledge flows, particularly at a time of rising geopolitical tensions. The lecture offered valuable reflections on how countries can cultivate innovation ecosystems through patience, learning, and institutional continuity, aligning closely with the Al-Jazarī Lecture’s mission to explore innovation from diverse global perspectives.