Innovations & technologies

China becomes world's second-largest R&D performer

China is playing an increasingly prominent role in world's science and engineering as the country becomes the second-largest performer of research and development (R&D),according to the Science and Engineering Indicators 2016 (Indicators) report from theU.S. National Science Foundation.

Indicators 2016 makes it clear that Global R&D spending shows an overall upward trend mainly in North America, Europe and East Asia and Southeast Asia, while the U.S.continues to lead the world.

According to Indicators 2016, China is now the second-largest performer of R&D,accounting for 20 percent of global R&D spending as compared to the United States,which accounts for 27 percent.