China’s research and development spending reached 3.9 trillion yuan ($583 billion) in 2025, rising 8.2% year over year as the United States faces proposed cuts to federal research funding, according to China’s National Bureau of Statistics.
Basic research funding increased 13.3% to 283.46 billion yuan, while research spending by universities climbed 11% to 340.7 billion yuan. Businesses accounted for more than 77% of China’s total R&D investment, with corporate spending exceeding 3 trillion yuan for the first time.
Beijing plans to prioritise semiconductors, artificial intelligence, quantum technology and biotechnology. China’s R&D expenditure reached 2.8% of GDP, surpassing the OECD average for the first time.
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China's research and development (R&D) expenditure rose 8.2 percent year on year to 3.93 trillion yuan (about 584.5 billion U.S. dollars) in 2025, the National Bureau of Statistics said on Friday. Over the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), the country's R&D spending rose at an average annual rate of 10 percent, making China the world's second-largest R&D investor.
— China Science (@ChinaScience) October 16, 2026
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