ABSTRACT
This chapter considers institutional angle to analyze the development of the Chinese Big Data (BD) and cloud industry and market. Chinese IT players are involved in grand projects and investments. There also collaborations in the BD and cloud industry that involve local and foreign technology firms. Cloud-related entrepreneurship is also facilitated by the presence of venture capital (VC) firms. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has been guiding cloud standardization initiatives. The cloud-related legal system and enforcement mechanisms are evolving more slowly compared to the technological development. BD and cloud services give small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) access to technologies they are not able to afford from other sources. A distinguishing mark of China is that the strong state has been capable of mobilizing massive resources in the development of the cloud industry. Special interest groups and non-government entities are organized loosely and there is little room for these groups to influence national policymaking in China.
