The 2020 New Infrastructure initiative by China, formulated to advance digital connectivity, has enabled China to deploy the world’s largest 5G (fifth-generation wireless telecommunications technology) network with over 4.25 million base stations and 5G user penetration exceeding 71%. It has created 8 million jobs in the 5G ecosystem, enabling real-time production coordination across vast distances with more than 4,000 5G factories established across the country.15USE CASE 1: INFRASTRUCTURE China’s infrastructure programme catalyses industrial connectivity Qatar’s national dashboard, established to enhance resilience amid supply chain disruptions driven by regional geopolitical circumstances and climate change, tracks 24 essential food items in real time and issues alerts when reserves fall below thresholds (e.g. less than 60-day wheat stock). During COVID-19, its scope expanded to include masks, PPE and critical industrial inputs. By integrating forecasting and customs data and employing competitive bidding models along with incentives such as “in- country” value points, the system promotes buffer stocks and local production, stabilizes supply chains and enables rapid, data-driven adaptation.USE CASE 2: RESOURCES AND ENERGY Qatar’s national dashboard for critical supply security China aligned its IP regime with the World Trade Organization (WTO) trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights (TRIPS) standards and set high national targets for patent, trademark and copyright filings. Reforms created specialized IP courts and strengthened enforcement while encouraging technology transfer from universities. By 2023, China far exceeded its targets (4.4 million patent applications, 7.8 million trademark registrations), improving legal certainty and innovation confidence.16USE CASE 3: TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION China’s action plan for implementing National IP Strategy Skillnet Ireland uses 70 business networks to deliver subsidized training co-developed by companies, serving over 24,700 firms and 92,400 employees each year. Partnerships with government and educators provide training in digitalization, sustainability, innovation and leadership. This shared model builds a resilient, relevant and adaptive workforce, while keeping training costs stable across the whole ecosystem.17USE CASE 4: LABOUR AND SKILLS Ireland’s enterprise-led upskilling Global Value Chains Outlook 2026: Orchestrating Corporate and National Agility 27