When combined, `产业 (chǎnyè)` becomes “industry” (the 'production business'). `升级 (shēngjí)` literally means “to rise a level” or “upgrade.” Therefore, 产业升级 (chǎnyè shēngjí) is a direct and powerful term that means “to upgrade the industry” or “industrial upgrading.”
产业升级 is more than just an economic term in China; it's a statement of national ambition and a central pillar of the “Chinese Dream” (中国梦, Zhōngguó mèng). For decades, China was known as the “world's factory,” producing low-cost, labor-intensive goods. This term encapsulates the nationwide, government-led effort to shed that image and become a global leader in technology and high-end manufacturing. This concept is the driving force behind massive state-led initiatives like “Made in China 2025” (中国制造2025), which aims for self-sufficiency and dominance in key sectors like robotics, AI, and green energy. A key difference from the Western concept of “innovation” is the scale and top-down approach. While Western innovation is often seen as a bottom-up process driven by startups and market competition, 产业升级 in China is frequently a national strategy. The government actively identifies target industries, provides subsidies, and sets policy to steer the entire economy in a specific direction. It's a collective, national project, not just the sum of individual corporate efforts.
This is a formal and significant term, used widely in specific contexts.
The connotation is almost always positive, implying progress, modernization, higher wages, and a stronger, more competitive nation.