Big data engineer Li Kun's routine work involves analyzing medical treatment data, once an area entirely unfamiliar to him. Majoring in computer science at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Li has risen to his current position through his steady efforts.

"I used to work on the research and development of database and data storage systems. Then I shifted to big data analysis, a job that is more intensive, and have been focusing on the medical treatment field ever since," Li told Beijing Review. The engineer, in his 30s, has worked on databases for four years and spent three years on data analysis.

In the past, it could take doctors over a day to search through patients' records for diseases; now, big data-based technology allows them to retrieve pertinent information in minutes, according to Li.

Personal interest and learning on the job have played a key role in Li's growth. "I acquired medical knowledge mainly through reading books and seeking help from specialized colleagues," he said. With expanding technological and medical expertise, Li sees brighter prospects.

As the Internet permeates all areas of society, big data has injected strong impetus into traditional industries and generated demands for technicians with more specialized knowledge. According to a report on the outlook of big data released by the think tank China Center for Information Industry Development, core industries in the country's big data sector are expected to be worth more than 720 billion yuan ($106.3 billion) this year, with the sector set to register growth between 25 and 30 percent.

Big data has been applied in various areas such as government affairs, retail, transportation, medicine, education and public governance.

"Traditional industries and big data greatly complement each other, which has promoted the upgrading of the former," Li said.

The adoption of big data has largely renewed the medical industry and made data processing more efficient and accurate. It can help doctors search patient records for diseases, past diagnoses and surgeries as well as develop customized medical treatment plans. Meanwhile, analyses of data collected during clinical trials enable enterprises to produce drugs which can better meet market demands.

From a long-term perspective, big data will assist doctors in collecting patient information across the country, such as their gender, age and length of hospital stays, which can contribute to scientific and medical research.

China has seen initial gains in promoting the utilization of the Internet and big data through pooling resources. It has the largest number of big data professionals in the world, accounting for 59.5 percent of the total, according to a report released at the 2019 Tianfu International Forum on Big Data and the Digital Economy in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, in May.

However, of the country's total working population, those who work in the big data sector account for only 0.23 percent, lower than the rates in the U.S. and the Republic of Korea, which stand at 0.41 percent and 0.43 percent, respectively, the report said.

To encourage more people to work in the big data sector, Li said that college education and market demands need to be seamed closer together, for work like his calls for both data processing skills and knowledge of the medical profession. Without the latter, it would be hard to find sustainable growth in the industry.

As the technician suggests, professionals should develop in an all-round way through both enhancing their technology prowess and improving their knowledge in related areas.

Copyedited by Rebeca Toledo

Comments to lixiaoyang@bjreview.com