Abstract: Abstract: Based on the panel data collected from China’s 30 regions during the period of 1998-2006, an empirical analysis on the technical efficiency and technical progress of regional R&D innovation activity is conducted by using the DEA-Malmquist index. The main conclusions are as follows: the technical efficiency of China’s R&D innovation is low, and the main reason is due to the poor pure technical efficiency; technology progress is the main cause for the growth of total factor productivity, however the efficiency improvement is not obvious; a convergence trend is found in the whole nation and in the east, middle, and west regions. The catching-up effect for the backward areas are preliminary appeared. The conclusions provide enlightenments for the construction of innovative country of China.

Key words: R&D innovation, technical efficiency, technical progress, DEA, Malmquist index