Round Table China Shenzhen's Secret? Failure tolerance in R&D
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Aug 6, 2025 Shenzhen is pioneering a policy that embraces failure in research, redefining innovation in China. This shift encourages bold, risk-taking ideas by removing penalties for unsuccessful projects. The discussion highlights how failure tolerance, especially in fields like AI and biomedicine, can lead to significant advancements. It also emphasizes the importance of viewing setbacks as learning opportunities, fostering creativity in various sectors, including entrepreneurship and personal growth.
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Shenzhen's Failure Tolerance Policy
- Shenzhen allows researchers to fail responsibly in publicly funded projects without penalties.
- This policy encourages bold ideas by removing fear of failure in scientific research.
Exemption Criteria for Failures
- Shenzhen's policy exempts responsible researchers from blame even if projects fail.
- Performance evaluations and future funding applications won't be negatively affected by failure under guidelines.
Conditions for Responsible Failure
- Researchers must act responsibly, follow procedures, and correct mistakes to get failure tolerance.
- Shenzhen outlines specific scenarios where failure won't lead to penalties under the new rules.