China has overtaken the United States in scientific publishing and is now the world’s leading producer of research output, according to Fred Fenter, chief executive editor of Switzerland-based academic publisher Frontiers.
Citing data from the Dimensions database, Fenter said Chinese researchers published 1.1 million articles in 2024, compared with 880,000 from the U.S.
“By 2024, Chinese researchers had published 1.1 million articles, compared to 880,000 from their US counterparts,” Fred Fenter, chief executive editor of the Switzerland-based publisher Frontiers, said in an interview.
— Brian Tycangco 鄭彥渊 (@BrianTycangco) November 19, 2025
It makes zero sense not to want to collaborate with China in… pic.twitter.com/m2oOrvuKii
China’s dominance is especially pronounced in medical research, where it accounted for more than half of all published papers in 2024. It also leads in energy research and high-impact patent activity, signaling a broader shift in global scientific power.
Fenter said Beijing’s rapid rise is becoming a model for other nations, including Vietnam, which aims to replicate China’s R&D expansion.
For the first time, Chinese cities account for more than half of the world's top ten scientific research hubs, according to the latest Nature Index supplement, with #Beijing retaining its position as the leading global science city — a title it has held since 2016.
— China Daily (@ChinaDaily) November 18, 2025
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China is also shaping emerging technologies highlighted by the World Economic Forum, including next-generation nuclear energy, green nitrogen fixation, and generative AI watermarking.
Fenter said scientific publishing itself may undergo rapid AI-driven transformation within five years.
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TIPP Staff
TIPP Staff
TIPP Staff
