On September 27, Economic Daily published an article stating that patience is not only a friend of time but also the soil for innovation. Technological innovation inherently features high investment, high risk, and long cycles. Who has the capability to support this expedition in scientific innovation? Tian Xuan, Dean of the Guanghua School of Management at Peking University, provides the answer in his book 'Patient Capital: Building a New Ecology of Long-term Investment'—patient capital. The characteristic of patient capital lies in its pursuit of long-term investment horizons and strategic stability, rather than short-term financial returns. As global economic uncertainty rises and China’s economy stands at a critical juncture of transitioning from factor-driven to innovation-driven growth, the concept of 'patience' is becoming the most scarce and urgent demand in the market. At the macro level, patient capital can effectively smooth short-term market fluctuations and enhance overall market confidence and resilience through long-term asset holding and rational decision-making, while creating a stable financial environment for the implementation of medium- to long-term economic and industrial policies by the state. At the micro level, patient capital can cover the entire development cycle of technological innovation, providing a tolerant space for trial and error in technology, and shifting resources from short-term market projects to long-term innovation projects. Furthermore, the participation of patient capital can send positive signals to the outside world, reduce information asymmetry between market investors and upstream and downstream companies, and alleviate financing difficulties for enterprises. Beyond financial support, it can also promote knowledge transfer and market resource integration through its own network, enhancing the success rate of innovation and research and development in invested companies, and driving the development of new productive forces and the upgrading of economic structure. Strengthening patient capital means not only extending the investment horizon but also respecting the laws of technological iteration, trusting in the long-term evolution of industries, and building a consensus on long-term value. Its deep binding with the real economy will become another important force supporting the stable and long-term development of the Chinese economy.
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