For decades, the US has been "number one" as the country that invests the most in research and development (R&D). But now there's a new scenario on the field: China has already become a very serious competitor in the global scientific and technological competition - and this is no longer a simple trend, but a shift in the balance of power.
New infographics based on WIPO data show that China's share of global R&D expenditures has jumped from 4.0 percent in 2000 to 27.4 percent by 2024. This is a record turning point in the "who plays more" battle in 24 years.
Interestingly, in 2024, China also took first place in terms of spending volume: according to calculations, it invested $785.9 billion in R&D. The US is in second place with $781.8 billion - the difference is very small, but symbolically large. Thus, the main part of the world's R&D money revolves around these two countries.
It is no coincidence that Asia is becoming an "innovation center." According to WIPO estimates, Asia accounted for approximately 45% of global R&D in 2024, compared to around 23% in 2000. That is, the center of gravity is gradually shifting towards the East. The contribution of South Korea and India to this process is also increasing.
Why did China advance so quickly? Firstly, state policy and long-term priorities (especially "strategic technologies") play a major role - many analyses emphasize that state-led initiatives are strong in China's innovation system.
Secondly, in the USA, the model is different: the private sector is the main "engine" of R&D. Amazon and Alphabet are often mentioned among the companies that are making the biggest investments in corporate research in the world.
Japan is in third place: in 2024, it spent approximately $186 billion. However, the dynamics are not particularly encouraging: the WIPO report states that Japan's global share decreased by 7.2 percentage points between 2000-2024 (the US is also at the top in terms of decline). In Japan, Toyota is traditionally cited as one of the leaders in corporate research, and Honda is also shown as an active participant.
Europe is also in the top 10 with three countries: Germany (4th place), Great Britain (6th place), France (8th place). But according to WIPO estimates, even these "old innovation grants" have lost some of their global share since 2000. Russia ranks around 11th in the world in R&D spending.
In short, the big picture is as follows: global R&D reached approximately $2.87 trillion in 2024, and the global economy is increasingly transitioning to a "scientific-innovative" mode.
What do we expect from now on? Competition in Asia will intensify, and the US will be forced to accelerate in strategic areas while maintaining the power of the private sector. That is, the future struggle for technology is not "peaceful laboratory work" - it is a real geo-economic race. And whoever bets more will write tomorrow's market rules.
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