China state media blasts start-up for claiming Google Chrome-based browser as own innovation

The Redcore “farce” has exposed abuse of the “independent innovation” and pursuit of rapid success in China’s tech industry, state media warned in a commentary published on Monday.

The remarks come after the Beijing-based start-up admitted that the “home-developed” web browser it claimed was “breaking the American monopoly” was based on Google’s Chrome technology.

Online postings that showed the installation software for the web browser contained Chrome files went viral last week, just one day after Redcore announced it had raised 250 million yuan (US$36 million) in funding.

“Independent innovation has become a high frequency phrase spreading across academia and industry circles to the whole society, as if it can come true based solely on belief itself,” the Science and Technology Daily newspaper said. “If it’s okay to cut corners and mint quick fortunes by hyping such concepts, who else would be willing to toil on the sidelines and stick to original research?

“Without the backbone principle of ‘feet on the ground’, technology innovation would end up descending into speculation,” the commentary added.

Science and Technology Daily, funded by the State Science and Technology Commission and China's Academy of Science since 1986, is considered a mainstream state media outlet in the field.