Founding of the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Computing Technology

Computer science originated in the People's Republic of China in 1956 with the founding of the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Computing Technology. The Soviet Union, which played a pivotal role, gave the Chinese the opportunity to learn computer science by supplying components and describing the manufacturing process. The Soviets also helped solve key difficulties and trained workers

Overview: A Technology Policy

On 1 July 1949, the Chinese Communist Party formally adopted a policy—called leaning to one side—of looking to the Soviet Union for technological and economic advice. Chinese leaders had little choice but to accept such a policy, because the US and other Western countries were refusing to export technology to China. Responding to the actions of the Western countries, the Soviet Union hoped to bring China within the block of socialist countries.