China’s R&D spending keeps up steady rise as No 1 US seeks further funding cuts

China’s R&D spending keeps up steady rise as No 1 US seeks further funding cutsChina’s research and experimental development spending crossed 3.9 trillion yuan in 2025, National Bureau of Statistics data showsPublished: 9:00pm, 16 Oct 2026Updated: 9:04pm, 16 Oct 2026China’s R&D investment grew by 8.2 per cent last year – fuelled by double-digit growth in fundamental science and university funding – in sharp contrast with deep budget cuts across the US research sector.Total investment in research and experimental development crossed 3.9 trillion yuan (US$583 billion) in 2025, “maintaining a trajectory of steady growth”, the National Bureau of Statistics said when releasing the data on Friday.State news agency Xinhua noted on Friday that in the five years to 2025, China’s R&D spending grew at an average annual rate of 10 per cent, placing it at the forefront of the world’s major economies.0.8x0.9x1.0x1.1x1.2x1.5x1.75x00:0000:00AI-generated voice