China leads high-tech research in 80% of critical fields: report

Aggressive investment puts country far ahead of U.S., Europe, Japan

20230914N China hypersonic missile

Military vehicles during a parade in Beijing carry hypersonic missiles, one of many high-tech fields where China leads the world. © Reuters

KAORU TAKATSUKI, Nikkei staff writer

TOKYO -- China leads advanced technological research in 80% of critical fields including hypersonics and underwater drones, a report from an Australian think tank shows, as the country pulls ahead of the U.S., Europe and Japan through state-led investment.

Out of 23 technologies analyzed by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), China leads research in 19. The rankings are based on the 10% most cited academic papers among 2.2 million published between 2018 and 2022, with a focus on fields considered key to the trilateral security partnership among the U.S., the U.K. and Australia, or AUKUS.

Sponsored Content

About Sponsored ContentThis content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.