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Rabat – China and the US are tightening the gap in the research and development (R&D) field in terms of spending, according to statistics the US National Science Foundation (NSF) released on January 15.
From 2000 to 2017, China outpaced the US in terms of R&D growth, with a yearly growth rate of 17%, compared to the US’ 4.3%. Other countries, including Germany and South Korea, also increased their spending at rates that exceeded that of the US.
In 2017, global R&D expenditure rose from $722 billion in 2000 to $2.2 trillion, with the US accounting for 25% compared to China’s 23%.
Although the US spends more on R&D, its global share since 2000 has fallen although R&D spending rose in many Asian countries, especially China.
The United States is increasingly “seen globally as an important leader rather than the uncontested leader in science and engineering,” NSF said in its report.
China now produces twice as many science and engineering (S&E) articles than the US.
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In 2015, China has awarded about 32,000 S&E doctoral degrees, surpassing the US with 30,000 doctoral degrees granted. China remained in the lead ever since.
Meanwhile, the report adds, many publications produced in the US are co-authored by Chinese researchers and experts.
This means that China has outstripped the US as the global leader in S&E publications.
The US, nevertheless, maintains the lead in the field of knowledge- and technology-intensive industries, known as supercomputers, including artificial intelligence (AI). The US accounts for a 39% share of the world’s 100 most powerful computers, compared to China’s 9% share.
