US EditionChina surpasses US in research spending – the consequences extend far beyond scientific ranking and clout
China now leads the United States in research spending and publications, while U.S. federal R&D investment has fallen more than 15% since 2010, researchers say.
- China has reached parity with the United States in research spending, marking a historic shift in global scientific dominance according to a March 2026 report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- While China previously spent little on research, the United States has seen federal investment decline from a peak of 1.86% of gross domestic product in 1964 to about 0.66% in 2021.
- Chinese entities filed roughly 1.8 million patent applications in 2024, significantly outpacing American entities, while China claimed a 17% advantage in selective scientific journals tracked by the Nature Index.
- The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation estimates a 20% cut in federal research starting in fiscal year 2026 would shrink the United States economy by nearly $1 trillion over 10 years.
- Under the Trump administration, government agencies have slowed research proposals and tightened access to foreign-born researchers, policies critics warn threaten the openness that historically made American science productive.
24 Articles
24 Articles
The Consequences of China Surpassing the US in Research Spending
Republished with permission from The Conversation, by Caroline Wagner, The Ohio State University China’s rapid rise in science has hit a milestone. The country’s investment in research and development has reached parity with—and by purchasing power measures has surpassed—that of the United States, according to a March 2026 report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Both nations have crossed the US$1 trillion threshol…
The Conversation
China surpasses US in research spending – the consequences extend far beyond scientific ranking and clout
In a span of a few years, China has outstripped the U.S. in scientific publications, spending and patents. AP Photo/Andy WongChina’s rapid rise in science has hit a milestone. The country’s investment in research and development has reached parity with – and by purchasing power measures has surpassed – that of the United States, according to a March 2026 report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Both nations have cr…
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