Key facts
- China's R&D spending reached 3.93 trillion yuan ($584.5 billion) in 2025.
- R&D intensity rose to 2.8% of GDP, exceeding the OECD average.
- Basic research spending increased by 13.3% year-on-year.
- Enterprise R&D spending accounted for 77.4% of the total.
- The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region's R&D expenditure grew 10.3%.
China's research and development expenditure grew by 8.2% in 2025, reaching 3.93 trillion yuan ($584.5 billion), according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Friday. This steady growth contrasts with reported budget cuts in the US research sector. The country's R&D intensity, a measure of spending as a share of GDP, rose to 2.8%, exceeding the OECD average for the first time. Spending on basic research saw a significant increase of 13.3% year-on-year. Enterprises were the main drivers of this expansion, accounting for 77.4% of the total R&D spending. Major innovation hubs like the Yangtze River Delta, Guangdong, and Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei also reported substantial R&D expenditure increases.