France's "Le Point" Column: China Is Poised to Replace the United States as Global Leader in Scientific Research
French columnist Jean-François Bouvet recently wrote that China's scientific output is moving toward global dominance. Since the end of World War II, the United States has been the largest funder of global research and development (R&D). However, according to an analysis by the "Frontiers of Science and Innovation Policy" (FSIP) project at the University of California, San Diego, commissioned for the Nature Index, China is expected to surpass the U.S. and claim this leadership position within two to three years.
The author notes that this shift stems from the convergence of two forces: stagnation in U.S. public investment and a continuous rise in China’s R&D spending.
China Aims to Become the Global Hub for Scientific Research
According to OECD data, China's public R&D expenditure reached $133 billion in 2023—an increase of 90% over the past decade. Meanwhile, U.S. R&D spending rose only 12%, totaling $155 billion. Furthermore, China plans to increase overall R&D spending by at least 7% annually before 2030, meaning billions of additional dollars each year—covering both public and private sectors, as well as fundamental and applied research.
A technology tracking tool operated by Australia’s independent think tank, the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre (ASPI), indicates that China leads in nearly 90% of key technological fields deemed capable of “significantly enhancing or threatening a nation’s national interests.”
Trump’s Unpredictability Could Undermine America’s Scientific Standing
In basic research, FSIP researchers believe that due to opposition from the Senate to the White House’s budget-cutting proposals, the overall funding levels for federal agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will remain largely stable this year. However, they are less optimistic about Congress’s ability to consistently resist the Trump administration’s intentions to make substantial budget cuts in the coming years.
Rao Yi (translated name), now a professor at Peking University, heads one of the world’s top neuroscience laboratories. After returning to China in 2007, he applied his experience gained in the U.S. to drive the revitalization of China’s life sciences. In a special report published by *Nature* in June 2025, this neuroscientist explained how American hesitation and indecision could provide China with an opportunity to catch up with international frontiers—and potentially even surpass the U.S. in fundamental research within a decade. Of course, this is likely not the issue most voters concerned with “Making America Great Again” would prioritize.
R&D: The Core Driver of Future Power
"Fundamental research lies at the heart of progress—it is the foundation upon which innovation and discovery will be realized a decade from now," said Robert Kahn, research policy expert and co-leader of the FSIP project.
Source: rfi
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1861367829313817/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.