China Overtakes U.S. as World's Top R&D Spender for the First Time
China Overtakes U.S. For First Time as Top Spender on R&D in 2024
China's total research and development spending reached ¥97.1 trillion in 2024, a 13.1% jump that pushed it past the United States (¥95.3 trillion) for the first time since the 1980s, according to Japan's National Institute of Science and Technology Policy. Japan held third place at ¥22.1 trillion. China also led in top 10% most-cited papers, while Japan stayed 13th for a fourth straight year.
It takes time for results to materialize after research funding is allocated. Efforts to increase research time and the number of doctoral students are necessary.