AsianScientist (Jan. 21, 2016) – According to a new US report released on Tuesday, Asia now accounts for 40 percent of global R&D, with China leading the pack.
The Science and Engineering Indicators 2016 (Indicators) report from the National Science Board, the policymaking body for the US National Science Foundation, describes R&D spending, STEM education, workforce development, minority representation and insights into what the public thinks about science.
While the United States remains the global leader in a variety of metrics—including R&D investment, number of advanced degrees in science and engineering and number of high-impact scientific publications—China, South Korea and India have started to invest heavily in R&D and develop a well-educated workforce.
Between 2003 and 2013, China ramped up its R&D investments at an average of 19.5 percent annually, greatly exceeding that of the United States. It is now the second-largest performer of R&D, accounting for 20 percent of global R&D as compared to the United States, which accounts for 27 percent.
“China made its increases despite the Great Recession. Developing economies that start at a lower base tend to grow much more rapidly than those that are already functioning at a high level; nonetheless, China’s growth rate in this arena has been remarkable,” says the press release accompanying the Indicators 2016 report.
China is also playing an increasingly prominent role in knowledge and technology-intensive industries, including high-tech manufacturing and knowledge-intensive services. In high-tech manufacturing, the United States maintains a slim lead with a global share of 29 percent to China’s 27 percent.
As the world’s number one producer of undergraduates with degrees in science and engineering, China has also made significant strides in science and engineering education. These fields account for 49 percent of all bachelor’s degrees awarded in China, compared to 33 percent of all bachelor’s degrees awarded in the United States. However, the United States continues to award the largest number of doctorates in science and engineering.
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Source: US National Science Foundation.
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