On December 2, the National Development and Reform Commission, the National Data Administration, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee issued the Opinions on Strengthening the Development of Disciplines and Majors Related to Data as a Production Factor and on Building a Digital Talent Workforce. The Opinions target major issues in the market-oriented allocation reform of data as a production factor, carry out systematic strategic research in the data field, build an enterprise-led collaborative innovation system that integrates industry, academia, research, and application, and develop a group of typical application scenarios for digital talent training.
The Value and Current State of Data as a Production Factor
In the digital economy era, data—this new type of production factor—has been vividly called “the new oil.” In recent years, China’s system for data as a production factor has been gradually improved, application scenarios have continued to grow, artificial intelligence has continuously empowered the development of data as a production factor, and the ecosystem has become increasingly fertile.
At present, society-wide enthusiasm for “using data” is stronger. More and more enterprises are entering the data market, and activating the value of data has become a consensus across sectors. Central SOEs have established nearly 500 digital technology companies, and about 66% of industry-leading enterprises have purchased data.
Market-oriented reform of data as a production factor has deepened, and value is being activated at an accelerated pace. Taking A-share listed companies as an example, in the third-quarter reports of 2025, a total of 101 companies disclosed information related to data assets, involving a combined scale of RMB 2.971 billion (≈ USD 0.41 billion, using 1 USD ≈ RMB 7.20). The number of “on-balance-sheet” companies and the overall scale increased year on year by 94.44% and 96.89%, respectively.
Since the issuance in April 2020 of the Opinions on Building a More Perfect System and Mechanism for the Market-Oriented Allocation of Factors, China’s market-oriented allocation reform for data as a production factor has continued to advance and has achieved initial results in institutional safeguards, infrastructure, and other aspects.
Full-Spectrum Interpretation of the Policy Content
The Opinions jointly released by the five departments put forward four major directions—twelve specific measures in total—for the development of disciplines and majors related to data as a production factor and for building a digital talent workforce.
In terms of building the education system, the Opinions propose that education authorities and data management authorities strengthen the development of disciplines and majors related to data as a production factor, and support qualified degree-granting institutions in establishing disciplines and majors such as data science and engineering, and digital economy and management.
At the same time, a sound talent-training mechanism connecting undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral education for disciplines and majors related to data as a production factor will be established and improved. Vocational colleges will be supported in timely and dynamically adjusting data-related majors based on industrial development needs, and in exploring the addition of majors closely aligned with market demand such as data collection and cleaning, data annotation, data compliance, and data operations.
In terms of integration of industry and education, the Opinions advocate establishing and improving a vocational education system and mechanism for the data industry that is coordinated by the government, guided by industry, and participated in by enterprises, and they explore forming a National Teaching Steering Committee for Vocational Education in the Data Industry. Localities are encouraged to build city-level consortia integrating industry and education for the data industry, based on industrial parks and integrating functions for talent training, innovation and entrepreneurship, and promoting high-quality development of the data industry.
In terms of scientific research, the Opinions emphasize targeting major issues in the market-oriented allocation reform of data as a production factor and carrying out systematic strategic research in the data field. Focusing on key issues such as data property rights, pricing, and transactions, in-depth research will be conducted on basic theories and laws and policies related to data as a production factor.
At the same time, keeping pace with development trends in frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and privacy-preserving computation, in-depth research will be carried out on basic common theories and technologies for data.
In terms of application orientation, the Opinions promote deep integration of scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation in the data field, build an enterprise-led collaborative innovation system integrating industry-academia-research-application, and develop a group of typical application scenarios for digital talent training.
Practical Exploration and Case Analysis
Prior to the introduction of the five-department policy, localities and enterprises had already carried out many explorations in data talent training.
In September this year, People’s Data launched the “Data as a Production Factor Integration of Industry and Education Innovation Practice Program” in Shenzhen, aiming to solve the problem of insufficient talent supply in the data-as-a-factor industry. Through measures such as building an expert pool, conducting teacher training, and jointly building innovation practice bases, the program seeks to open up the “last mile” between talent training and industrial demand.
At a related roundtable forum, Jin Liu, general manager of the Digitalization Management Department of China Transportation Information Technology Group, said that digital talent is not “exclusive to those with computer backgrounds,” but rather groups that “can use digital means to empower business.” Addressing the disconnect between school teaching and enterprise needs, relevant participants suggested that enterprises share categorized, desensitized data and jointly build and cultivate data platforms with universities to solve the mismatch between school education and enterprise demand.
Future Outlook and Trend Analysis
With the issuance and implementation of the Opinions by the five departments, data talent training will usher in a new stage of development. From the perspective of market-oriented reform of data as a production factor, solving the talent issue will become a key link in unleashing the value of data.
Liu Lihong, secretary of the leading Party members’ group and director of the National Data Administration, stated during recent research visits that efforts should continue to advance the market-oriented allocation reform of data as a production factor, accelerate the building of trusted data spaces in industries such as automobiles, increase the cultivation of data application scenarios, and fully activate the value of data as a production factor.
Educators have put forward a shift in education concepts oriented toward the future. Zhang Jing, deputy director of the Special Committee on Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education in Higher Education Institutions of the China Mechanical Engineering Education Association, believes that the future focus of talent training is not “teaching professional knowledge,” but “cultivating people who know how to learn.” She advocates breaking down barriers through “project-based learning”: “Bring real industrial problems into the classroom; the process of students solving problems is a simulation of enterprise work, and they can be ready to contribute when they arrive on the job.”
Some experts have stated, “AI is a tool, not a substitute. It may eliminate three old positions, but it will create ten new ones, and the massive data of traditional enterprises will be activated for value.”
The measures proposed in the Opinions—such as building an ecosystem for integration of industry and education and promoting reforms in education and teaching—are precisely a response to, and a concrete implementation of, this positive stance.
[Disclaimer]: The above content reflects analysis of publicly available information, expert insights, and BCC research. It does not constitute investment advice. BCC is not responsible for any losses resulting from reliance on the views expressed herein. Investors should exercise caution.