Author(s)

LiXuan Wang¹, TingJia Fu², BaoYing Yan², ZiLong Li^3*

Affiliation(s)

¹Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom.

²Henan Pathway Education Consulting Co., Ltd., Zhengzhou 450000, Henan, China.

³Hubei Financial Holding Financial Leasing Co., Ltd., Wuhan 430000, Hubei, China.

Corresponding Author

ZiLong Li

ABSTRACT

With the introduction of the 15th Five-Year Plan (FYP), China has set forth new expectations for entrepreneurship, signaling a shift beyond a purely market-driven orientation towards a more profound, mission-driven approach. Historically, market-driven entrepreneurship has played an indispensable role in promoting economic development and enhancing innovative capacity. However, in the new era, the limitations of this model have become increasingly apparent, necessitating a paradigm shift from market-driven to mission-driven entrepreneurship.The 15th FYP emphasizes that entrepreneurs should not only pursue economic returns but also undertake multiple missions, including advancing technological innovation, achieving green development, and safeguarding national security. This transformation represents a deepening of the understanding of the entrepreneur's role and an enrichment of the connotation of entrepreneursh ip. Therefore, this study aims to explore the new connotation, characteristics, and formation mechanisms of mission-driven entrepreneurship, analyzing its practical pathways within the context of the 15th FYP. The research objective is to construct an analytical framework to explain the dimensions and driving factors of mission-driven entrepreneurship. Through case studies, it will reveal how this spirit is embodied in actual business operations. The theoretical contribution of this research lies in enriching existing theories of entrepreneurship, particularly their application in the Chinese context, and providing theoretical support for understanding new trends in entrepreneurial spirit.Statistics show that entrepreneurship is crucial for enhancing a nation's innovative capacity. For instance, research indicates that mission-driven entrepreneurs are more inclined to invest in long-term R&D projects, which significantly drives technological innovation and industrial upgrading. Furthermore, amidst intensified global economic integration and competition, the transformation of entrepreneurship is of great significance for enhancing national competitiveness.Regarding core propositions, this study will explore the following key issues: first, the new requirements for entrepreneurship and their substance as proposed by the 15th FYP; second, the necessity of the paradigm shift from market-driven to mission-driven; and third, how to construct an analytical framework for mission-driven entrepreneurship and the theoretical and practical implications of this framework. Through an in-depth analysis of these issues, this study will provide a systematic understanding of this entrepreneurial transformation and offer policy recommendations.

KEYWORDS

15th Five-Year Plan (15th FYP); Entrepreneurship; Corporate innovation; Market-driven; High-quality development; New quality productive forces

CITE THIS PAPER

LiXuan Wang, TingJia Fu, BaoYing Yan, ZiLong Li. Paradigm shift in Chinese entrepreneurship under the guidance of the 15th Five-Year Plan: from market-driven to mission-driven. World Journal of Economics and Business Research. 2025, 3(5): 1-15. DOI: https://doi.org/10.61784/wjebr3070.

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