Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice ›› 2026, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (9): 1087-1099.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-9771.2026.09.011

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A quantitative analysis of development policies for China's assistive technology industry: insights based on the "objective-instrument-intensity" framework

Gao Jiamin1a, Fu Zhenjing1b, Wang Muxiong2, Jiang Xiaqing1a, Liu Zhihong3, Zhang Hongtao3()   

  1. 1 a. School of Sociology, b. School of Government, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
    2 Guangdong Provincial Cultural Sports and Rehabilitation Assistive Devices Center for People with Disabilities, Guangzhou, Guangdong 511430, China
    3 China Assistive Devices and Technology Center for Persons with Disabilities, Beijing 100050, China
  • Received:2026-05-19 Revised:2026-07-01 Accepted:2026-07-08 Published:2026-09-25 Online:2026-09-20
  • Contact: Zhang Hongtao E-mail:zhanghongtao@cadtc.org.cn
  • Supported by:
    National Key R&D Program of China(2023YFC3604100);Research Project of the China Disabled Persons' Federation on Assistive Technology(2022CDPFAT-26)

Abstract:

Objective To quantitatively analyze and evaluate the content of China's assistive technology industry policies.

Methods Based on the three-dimensional framework of policy "objectives-instruments-intensity", this study examined 101 national-level assistive technology industry policies issued between 2011 and 2024. Policy text analysis was conducted to assess the matching and coordination among policy objectives, policy instruments and policy intensity. Furthermore, the policy modeling consistency (PMC) index model was applied to establish an evaluation system consisting of nine primary indicators and 35 secondary indicators, and six key policies were quantitatively evaluated.

Results The policy objectives mainly focused on optimizing the industrial development structure, also emphasized supportive environments for industrial development and the enhancement of innovation capacity. Policy instruments were dominated by supply-oriented and environment-oriented instruments, supplemented by demand-oriented instruments, aiming to strengthen technological foundations and competitiveness, promote standardized development, and facilitate industrial development and upgrading. Regarding the matching between policy objectives and instruments, multiple instruments were adopted to support different objectives, with different priorities. In terms of the matching between policy objectives and policy intensity, policies mainly emphasized improving the accessibility of assistive technology products and meeting the rehabilitation needs of different populations. Regarding the matching between policy instruments and policy intensity, supply-oriented instruments were more frequently adopted and showed higher policy intensity, indicating strong governmental efforts to optimize production factor allocation and enhance the capacity of market entities. The average PMC index score was 6.45, indicating relatively high policy quality, strong internal consistency, stable policy orientation, and clear objectives. The PMC scores for policy evaluation and policy instrument dimensions were relatively high, while some policies showed relatively narrow objectives.

Conclusion China's assistive technology industry policies demonstrate relatively high quality. Future policy development should further strengthen industrial innovation capacity, optimize the structure of policy instruments, and improve the alignment between policy objectives and instruments.

Key words: assistive technology, policy text analysis, policy objective, policy instrument, policy intensity, policy modeling consistency index

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