Science empowers as a nation’s toughest weapon in the future global competition and cooperation. A large number of countries listed in-house R&D for science-based innovations as their core development strategy in the next decade. This paper conducts multi-case analysis on four science-based innovations in China as a reference for how a new science-based venture superseded in global market and developed indigenous capability to generate much business value as well as scientific value. The four cases detailed are container inspection system, hot redundant JX-100 DCS, high-performance Dawning supercomputers and Chinese-character laser phototypesetting system. We concluded that the successful commercialization of a nationwide and grand scientific project requires the following: (1) visionary scientists’ solid authority, direct participation, business acumen and a strong sense of patriotism, without intermediaries, are the core for successful science-based innovation and commercialization during knowledge transformation; and (2) the powerful and direct support from the policymakers. Forms of support may vary from financial incentives, policy enforcement and endorsement. The consequences for the success of science-based innovations are the creation of highly-skilled manpower, new market as well as shifting away from low-cost strategy to innovative strategy.

Science-based innovation emerged from novel and discontinuous innovations which provoked irreversible yet significant changes in science and technology. This research investigated the commercialization process of artemisinin, a typical science-based innovation in China. Due to her research involvement with artimisinin (qinghaosu), Tu Youyou received the 2011 Lasker Award in clinical medicine and the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine jointly with William C. Campbell and Satoshi Ōmura. In this paper, the authors reviewed the process of artemisinin’s innovation from labs in a research institute to its entrance into the market. Based on the research, we reached the following conclusions. First, during the process of science-based innovation, a “new technology platform” might be established and a series of applications might be invented. Second, the extensive cooperation among research institutions and companies played a vital role in the science-based innovation. Third, the science-based innovation emerged through multidisciplinary research teams as well as contacts among scientists with cross-fields expertise. Fourth, for science-based innovation, early research funding mainly relied on public funds. During the commercialization stage, corporate funding plays a major role. Fifth, a clear research objective, an overall planning, coordination, and the stability of policies were also important factors in the entire science-based innovation process.