On Tuesday 9 October 2020, the National Bureau of Statistics, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Finance officially released the 2017 Annual Report on National R&D Expenditure. The Report highlights a narrowing gap in R&D expenditure between China and the United States, respectively the world’s second and first in R&D spending.
In particular, in 2017 the country’s total spending for R&D rose to a record 1.76 trillion RMB (around 218 billion EUR), +12.3% on the previous year, and accounting to 2.13% of the country’s GDP. The total number of R&D personnel employed nation-wide amounted to 436,000, an increase of 32,000 units compared to the previous year.
In terms of type of R&D activity, R&D expenditure in 2017 was divided as follows:
- Basic research: 97.5 billion RMB (around 12 billion EUR), +18.5% yoy, and accounting to 5.5% of the total R&D expenditure;
- Applied research: 184.9 billion RMB (around 23.1 billion EUR), +14.8% yoy, and accounting to 10.5% of the total R&D expenditure;
- Experimental development: 1.48 trillion RMB (around 184.3 billion EUR), +11.6% yoy, and accounting to 84% of the total R&D expenditure.
In terms of R&D actors, R&D expenditure in 2017 was divided as follows:
- Enterprises (any type): 1.37 trillion RMB (around 170 billion EUR), +12.5% yoy, and accounting to 77.6% of the total R&D expenditure;
- State-owned research structures: 243.5 billion RMB (around 30.3 billion EUR), +7.8% yoy, and accounting to 13.8% of the total R&D expenditure;
- Institutes of higher education: 126.6 billion RMB (around 15.8 billion EUR), +18.1% yoy, and accounting to 7.2% of the total R&D expenditure.
In terms of industry sectors, R&D expenditure in 2017 was divided as follows:
- High-tech manufacturing: 318.2 billion RMB (around 39.7 billion EUR), accounting to 2% of the total industry’s revenue;
- Machinery manufacturing: 672.5 billion RMB (around 83.9 billion EUR), accounting to 1.65% of the total industry’s revenue.
- The Report illustrates more in detail the specific breakdown by industry.
In terms of geographical areas, R&D expenditure in 2017 was divided as follows:
- Six areas with R&D expenditure over 100 billion RMB: Guangdong province (13.3% of the total), Jiangsu province (12.8%), Shandong (10%), Beijing (9%), Zhejiang province (7.2%), and Shanghai (6.8%).
- Seven areas with R&D expenditure intensity above the country average: Beijing (5.64% of regional GDP), Shanghai (3.93%), Jiangsu province (2.63%), Guangdong province (2.61%), Tianjin (2.47%), Zhejiang province (2.45%), and Shandong province (2.41%).
- The Report illustrates more in detail the specific expenditure and intensity breakdown by region.
External link:
http://www.bast.net.cn/art/2020/10/10/art_16698_389647.html