Chinese President Xi Jinping used his New Year’s Eve speech to emphasize breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, chip development, robotics and aerospace, framing tech advances as central to national strategy. Xi cited progress in large AI models and chip research and positioned innovation as a driver of ‘high-quality development’ under the 14th Five-Year Plan. The speech follows recent high-profile Chinese AI launches and accelerated chip-sector funding that universities and research institutions should monitor for collaboration and competition risks. Research offices and tech-transfer units must weigh implications for cross-border partnerships, export controls and grant strategies as Beijing emphasizes technological self-reliance.