In 2024 alone, China invested over 3.6 trillion yuan (~$496 billion) in R&D, with an R&D intensity of 2.68% of GDP, steadily closing the gap with the U.S. despite economic headwinds. While basic research still accounts for a modest 6.91% of total R&D spending, its growth rate—10.5% year-over-year—reflects a deliberate pivot toward foundational science.
Parallel to this academic expansion is China's dominance in patent filings, both domestically and internationally. Since 2015, China has consistently led the world in international patent applications under the WIPO framework, outpacing the U.S. and Japan. These patents span strategic sectors such as AI, semiconductors, green energy, and biotechnology—areas where China seeks not just parity, but primacy.
This dual engine of high-impact publications and intellectual property generation positions China as a global innovation powerhouse. Unlike earlier models of catch-up growth, China's current trajectory is defined by technological self-reliance, policy-driven innovation, and a recalibration of global research norms. The implications are profound: academic influence is no longer tethered to Western institutions, and the symbolic center of scientific authority is shifting eastward.