China's commitment to innovation is evident through its growing R&D investments, which reached 3.6 trillion yuan (US$496 billion) in 2024, an 8.3% increase despite slower growth. Its R&D intensity rose to 2.68%, reflecting advancements in science and technology. China outpaced the US in research output, leading in global publications and international patents since 2015. Seven of the top ten global research institutions in 2023 were Chinese. These achievements underscore China's drive for technological self-reliance and global leadership in innovation.

China continues to demonstrate its commitment to technological advancement and innovation, as evidenced by its increasing investment in research and development (R&D). Despite a slightly slower growth rate in R&D funding for the third consecutive year, the country’s focus on high-tech self-reliance has propelled steady gains in research intensity and global recognition.
Preliminary data from the National Bureau of Statistics reveals that China’s R&D spending exceeded 3.6 trillion yuan (US$496 billion) in 2024, marking an 8.3% increase from the previous year. While this represents a modest deceleration compared to the 8.4% growth in 2023, 10.1% in 2022, and 14.6% in 2021, it underscores China’s sustained leadership in global research output.
Encouragingly, the nation’s R&D intensity—measured as the ratio of R&D expenditure to GDP—has continued its upward trend, reaching 2.68% in 2024. This figure surpasses the 2.58% recorded in 2023, 2.49% in 2022, and 2.38% in 2021, highlighting China’s increasing strength in science, technology, and innovation. In comparison, the United States has maintained an R&D intensity above 3% since 2019, peaking at 3.4% in 2022.
China’s emphasis on original innovation and groundbreaking research is central to its strategy for achieving technological self-reliance and bolstering economic growth. A 2021 report by the American Association for the Advancement of Science noted that China accounted for 27% of global R&D expenditure, second only to the US at 32%. However, China has outpaced the US in research publication output since 2021 and has led in the number of international patents filed annually since 2015.
While the US remains dominant in terms of highly cited researchers, its research publication rate declined in 2022 for the first time in decades. In contrast, China’s contributions to global research have surged. According to the National Science Board, the number of science and engineering articles published annually grew tenfold in China between 2003 and 2022, compared to a one-third increase in the US during the same period. By 2022, China accounted for 27% of worldwide peer-reviewed science and engineering publications, surpassing the US at 14%.
China’s growing influence is further highlighted by the Nature Index database, which tracks contributions to 145 high-quality research journals. In 2023, China overtook the US to claim the top spot, with its share of peer-reviewed, high-quality research papers rising by 13.6% year-on-year. Meanwhile, US contributions declined by 7.1%, placing it in second position.
Notably, seven of the top ten global research institutions ranked by contributions to natural and health science journals in 2023 were Chinese, compared to just one in 2015. “The fact that leading institutions outside China are struggling to keep their position … shows how the capacity of Chinese research institutions to produce high-quality science is moving from strength to strength,” Nature Index remarked in its 2024 Research Leaders report.
China’s impressive achievements in R&D and science signal its determination to solidify its position as a global leader in innovation and technological progress. This momentum not only enhances its competitive edge but also contributes to the broader scientific community.
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