Course on China science and technology policy and innovation returns for Fall 2025
A popular course on science and technology policy and innovation in China is returning to Duke's campus this fall semester. China's technological rise has become one of the most important developments in the 21st century. This course focuses exploring the country's approaches to science and technology innovation, particularly during the period encompassing 1978–present.
Over the course of the semester, students will examine the country's transition from a Soviet-style top-down model to one where market forces play a greater role in driving advances in science and technology. Students will also analyze China's increasing emphasis on innovation-driven economic growth.
Notably, the instructor, Dr. Denis Simon, has just been re-appointed as the holder of the Bank of America visiting faculty chair at the Schwarzman College in Beijing for Spring 2026. He spent the spring 2025 semester at the Schwarzman College on the campus of Tsinghua University where he taught a graduate course focused on China science and technology policy and innovation strategy for a group of Schwarzman Scholars.
During his stay in Beijing, along with his regular teaching, Dr. Simon also gave 10 public lectures on U.S.-China relations, focused on either bilateral S&T cooperation or bilateral cooperation in higher education. He also spoke at the AmCham Hong Kong Annual China Conference in April. In May, he spoke at Ehwa University and Korea University in Seoul, South Korea.
Dr. Simon formerly served at the Executive Vice Chancellor at Duke Kunshan University (2015–2020).