Abstract:As the demand side of science and technology innovation(STI) , the manufacturing enterprises, especially low and medium technology (LMT)enterprises, are objects of technological innovation transfer and diffusion in the National Innovation System. Transformation and upgrading in LMT manufacturing enterprises not only rely on absorbing new technology to improve the technical ability, Non-R&D innovation, which produces supplementary resources to technical ability, play a great role due to the characteristics on industry organization, knowledge base and the development path of China’s manufacturing enterprises. This article evaluates non R&D innovation from three perspectives: novelty in problem-solution, knowledge base, and innovative patterns. A series of solution is put forward to foster non R&D ability for manufacturing firms.