BEIJING - China will raise its global innovation ranking over the next five years, according to a newly issued national scientific and technological (S&T) blueprint.

The blueprint, issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology on Wednesday, maps out the country's S&T development goals for the coming five years. The blueprint's objectives include significant growth in innovation capacity, greater international influence in the S&T sector and more breakthroughs in the research and development (R&D) of crucial technologies.

The blueprint also specifies that China's global innovation ranking will be raised from 21st to 18th in the world, citing rankings released by the Chinese Academy of Science and Technology for Development (CASTED) in February.

The CASTED ranking surveyed the innovative capacity of 40 countries with an edge in technological research.

Other specific goals outlined in the blueprint include increasing the amount of money spent on R&D, boosting patent ownership, improving the added value of the nation's high-tech industries and increasing the number of active R&D personnel.

The blueprint was issued after two years of studies, opinion surveys and amendments.