Written by ExpoLume
- $500B Milestone: China’s R&D spending topped 3.6 trillion yuan ($500B) in 2024, with 7%+ annual growth.
- Second in scale (49.57% of U.S.), but mid-tier G7 intensity (2.54% in 2022).
- Southern provinces dominate (67.21%), Central rises, top 3 (Guangdong, Jiangsu, Beijing) hold 35.86%.
- Firms fund 79.02% and execute 77.57% of R&D, focusing on development (95.93%).
- Universities lead basic research (41.33%); optimization, not scale, is the next challenge.
A recent report on February 10, 2025 sparked debate about global R&D cuts, prompting scrutiny of China’s $3.6 trillion yuan ($500 billion USD) R&D budget in 2024. The China R&D Funding Report 2024 by Dalian University of Technology reveals where this massive investment goes, how it stacks up globally, and its regional and structural dynamics.
Record Growth: China’s R&D spending hit 3.08 trillion yuan in 2022 (up 10.11%), 3.34 trillion in 2023 (up 8.36%), and over 3.6 trillion in 2024, meeting the “14th Five-Year Plan” goal of 7% annual growth. R&D intensity rose to 2.54% in 2022, 2.65% in 2023, and 2.68% in 2024, surpassing the 2.5% target set in 2006.
Global Standing: In 2022, China’s R&D budget was 49.57% of the U.S.’s, outpacing Germany (3.58x) and Japan (3.16x), but its intensity (2.54%) trailed the U.S. (3.59%), Japan (3.41%), and Germany (3.13%), ranking mid-tier among G7 nations.
Regional Divide: The South’s share of R&D rose from 66.5% (2020) to 67.21% (2023), dominating the top 10 provinces (8 in 2023 vs. 7 in 2020). The Central region grew from 17.75% to 18.20%, while the Northeast dipped from 3.61% to 3.35%. Guangdong, Jiangsu, and Beijing led with 35.86% of the total in 2023.
Funding Sources: Enterprises drove 79.02% of R&D in 2022 (up from 31.71% in 1995), while government funding fell to 17.77% (from 25.84%). Execution shifted to enterprises (77.57%), with research institutes (12.39%) and universities (7.84%) declining.
Spending Focus: Enterprises prioritize applied development (95.93% in 2022), while universities focus on basic research (41.33%) and institutes balance both (19.01% basic, 47.78% development). Government support for universities rose to 25.3% by 2022.
China’s R&D scale is world-class, but optimization is key; regional gaps widen, and enterprises lag in basic research. Future efforts should boost university funding and cross-regional collaboration.
Full Report: http://www.zhishifenzi.com/depth/depth/12991.html
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