What China already has is a new-found confidence among its up and coming local entrepreneurs, successful serial entrepreneurs, a government that is pushing forward the innovation agenda and providing financial incentives for startups, an upsurge in new, higher-quality patent applications, and a large market with unique needs.
The new National Network for Manufacturing Innovation will work to leverage new investment from industry, state and localgovernment, and the research community.
And if Scotland becomes more self-contained as an economy (the way, for instance, that the Scottish government urges food shoppers to buy local) there could be a hindering effect on growth and innovation resulting from reduced competition and variety.