Abstract: Statistics of the second National Economic Census show that Chinese enterprises in the energy sector spend nearly RMB 20 billion on research and development. Remarkable achievements of the R&D activities and substantial increase of patents and new products output are the results of as-demanded innovation input and general awareness on the importance of cooperation in innovation among the industry, institutes and universities. However, government authorities shall direct their attentions and adopt related measures on issues like persistently lower input in R&D, insufficient investment of some energy-rich provinces, decreased input in energy saving and emission reduction, and to be strengthened government supports of R&D activities by large industrial enterprises in the new energy sector.