Recently, China Post Group Corporation Limited issued the 2024 Sci-Tech Innovation Action Plan (hereinafter referred to as the Plan), aiming to fully implement the innovation-driven development strategy. Focusing on improving independent and integrated innovation capabilities, the Plan strives to strengthen construction of innovation system and promote market application of the achievements. It is committed to developing innovative talents, and deepening openness and collaboration, thus creating a good innovative ecosystem to provide strong support for the high-quality development of China Post.

The Plan emphasizes that China Post’s sci-tech innovation in 2024 should have three focuses. Firstly, China Post should focus on strengthening technology empowerment and strive to play its pioneering role in science and technology. Secondly, it should focus on optimizing systems and mechanisms and strive to enhance the momentum for independent sci-tech innovation. Thirdly, it should focus on expanding sci-tech influence and strive to promote its leading role of sci-tech innovation in postal industry. To this end, it will implement three special campaigns in artificial intelligence, advanced automation and data element X, pilot and roll out two key applications of self-service post office and autonomous driving, and enable the improvement of both the systematic abilities of sci-tech innovation and the effect of sci-tech empowerment. In addition, the Plan specifies 11 key tasks in three categories of China Post’s sci-tech innovation in 2024.

In terms of strengthening technology empowerment, China Post will formulate and release the Medium- and Long-term Key Research and Development Directions for Sci-Tech Innovation. It will make comprehensive study and grasp the needs of the primary level for sci-tech innovation, list their technical problems, and plan for projects with long-term importance in ten major R&D directions in the fields of automation, information technology, digitalization and intelligence, and green development. China Post will step up efforts to improve sci-tech input-output efficiency, and promote the market application of sci-tech advances.

In terms of optimizing systems and mechanisms, China Post will enhance its research strengths, perfect the management mechanisms and reward systems in the whole process and with all factors of scientific research, implement the strategy on developing a quality postal workforce, and strengthen sci-tech personnel development. Moreover, it will improve the management of sci-tech innovation, and reinforce sci-tech assessment and management of digital and intelligent empowerment.

In terms of expanding sci-tech influence, China Post will actively integrate into the national sci-tech innovation system, align with national strategies on sci-tech innovation, and apply for projects under the national key research and development plan. It will build upgraded versions of sci-tech innovation bases and laboratories in line with the first-class standard. Besides, China Post will continue to strengthen cooperation and exchanges on sci-tech innovation, and attach great importance to industrial and academic exchanges and cooperation at home and abroad to boost its sci-tech influence.