Microsoft founder Bill Gates believes China will make major contribution to world innovation and the future of technology. (Photo : REUTERS)
Microsoft founder Bill Gates expressed belief that China is going to contribute more to the world’s innovation through its strong determination to promote science and research, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
In an interview on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2016 in Davos, Switzerland, Gates said that China would probably become a major contributor in the ongoing Fourth Industrial Revolution, which is currently bringing drastic change for most industries.
Gates believes that the digital revolution is a big factor in the future of innovation.
The Fourth Industrial Revolution refers to advances in artificial intelligence, robotics, autonomous vehicles, 3D printing, nanotechnology and other areas of science, which drive the ongoing transformation of our society and economy.
The Internet has made the new technologies possible, where Microsoft and Gates have made a major contribution, the report said.
"An industrial revolution is coming to increase productivity very dramatically," Gates said. "It creates opportunities, and it creates challenges."
According to Gates, new technology changes would free some labor and allow people to engage more in the culture sector. He added that through China's educational system, it had made some advantages in science and technology and the country has a strong will to promote its contribution in different science sectors.
"China obviously has a lot of people and a lot of smart people," Gates said. "Not only a lot of people college-educated, but also a lot of engineers with the quality of engineering skills."
"With the recognition that people have done something that they can be rewarded for that, many experts have been leaded to have new companies, in IT sector, biology, robots and other those things. China is going to carry its weight," Gates added.
According to the report, Gates worked for innovation in global health and development in recent years. As the co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, he partnered with Tsinghua University to establish the Global Health Drug Discovery Institute (GHDDI) in Beijing during his Davos visit.
"China has made incredible progress in reducing poverty and shares the foundation's commitment to harnessing advances in science and technology to address the critical health challenges affecting the world's poorest people," Gates said.
"We are excited about GHDDI's potential to drive innovation in global health research and development, and look forward to partnering with Tsinghua University on our continued work to address the world's most pressing global health challenges," the Microsoft founder added.
During the WEF, Gates said that his foundation would invest more in innovation in the coming years, adding that he would gradually increase investment in China's innovation.
Gates also expressed optimism about China's economic outlook despite the economic slowdown.
"I have a lot of confidence in China, partly because they take a long-term view, and partly because they look at what other countries are doing," Gates said.
"Most countries would envy a 6.9 percent growth, I think China has a bright future," Gates added. "China is going to be contributing more and more to the world's innovation."
