China's State Council has published a blueprint for domestic technological innovation development during the 13th Five-Year Plan from 2016 to 2020. And here are some of the targets to watch. Last year, 2.1 percent of the nationwide expenditure was spent on scientific research and experiments, amounting to over 1.4 trillion yuan. China aims to increase expenditure to 2.5 percent by 2020, and expects its comprehensive innovation capabilities to be ranked among the world’s top 15.

By 2020, knowledge-intensive services should contribute to at least 20 percent of the nation's gross domestic product. And total factor productivity is slated to account for up to 60 percent of the country's economic growth.

The number of Chinese patent applications is expected to double in the next five years. And 60 out of every 10,000 workers will be engaged in research and development. The plan also calls for fifteen major projects, with a focus on sectors such as quantum telecommunications, advanced manufacturing, as well as technologies in cyberspace and deep space.