China Takes the Lead: The Changing Map of World Science Power
“Scientia potestas est,” said Francis Bacon more than four centuries ago.Knowledge is power. At a time when the world was starting to use telescopes and printing presses, the philosopher emphasized that scientific achievements were closely related to political power. that principle remains relevant today.
In an era of American superpower, the race to determine who controls knowledge – and how it is used – has reached a turning point. A survey published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) shows that by 2023, Chinese scientists will be the main partners in almost half of research collaborations with United States researchers.
This number marks a historical shift. China is no longer just playing catch up, but is now leading in a number of strategic areas and increasingly dictating the agenda on global research issues.
China’s rise in science is no longer measured by the number of scientific publications or classical awards such as the prestigious Nobel Prize. Now, the benchmarks are broader and more strategic.
An analysis of around six million research publications shows that by 2023, around 45 percent of the leadership composition in joint research between the United States and China will be held by Chinese scientists. Even though in 2010, the figure was only 30 percent. If this trend continues, researchers predict China will match US dominance in strategic areas such as artificial intelligence, semiconductor research and materials science in 2027 to 2028.
China also excels in the number of scientific publications. The latest G20 Research and Innovation report recorded nearly 900 thousand scientific publications originating from China, a threefold increase compared to 2015. In the nature Index, which assesses the top 150 science and medicine journals, China has long overtaken the US.Of the ten most influential institutions in the index, seven are from China.
Meanwhile, the position of Western countries looks increasingly pressing. Even though Harvard University is still in the lead, positions two to nine are dominated by Chinese universities. The Massachusetts Institute of technology (MIT), the innovation icon of the United States, is in 10th position.
Why is China increasingly superior in research?
China places science at the heart of its national progress, with large investments in research and technology. This country is also increasingly opening itself to international research cooperation and actively manages cross-border collaborations. The government diligently encourages students and researchers to work and study abroad. Becuase that is where the global network is built.
In the technology sector, including through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) program, China has poured bil