Abstract:Building regional scientific and technological innovation highlands is an important solution to the problem of the middle-technology trap. Scientific and technological innovation highlands play significant roles on and carry out major tasks such as breaking through original technological innovation barriers, facilitating efficient conversion of scientific and technological fruits, attracting and gathering global high-end innovation factors, and creating an open and competitive innovation ecosystem. They serve as leaders, pioneers, and experimental fields in promoting the country to transcend the middle-technology trap. In this regard, this study attempts to review and summarize relevant literature on regional innovation systems, elucidate the role of regional scientific and technological innovation highlands, analyze the key elements in building such highlands, and propose strategies and measures for regional scientific and technological innovation highlands to lead China’s breakthrough of the middle-technology trap.