A report released by Shenzhen-based data firm Dongbi Data reveals that China has surpassed the US in the number of top scientists and technology experts for the first time. The report defines these top scientists and technology experts as researchers who have published influential papers in leading international academic journals. To compile this data, the research team analyzed over 40,000 highly cited papers published between 2020 and 2024 across 129 top journals covering various scientific disciplines. Let’s get into the details behind this report.
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China Overtakes the US as the Global Leader in Top Scientists
China’s Rise and US Decline
The study conducted showcases a remarkable increase in the number of top scientists in China. The figures climbed from 18,805 in 2020 to an impressive 32,511 in 2024, resulting in a rise in China’s global talent share from 17% to 28%. On the contrary, the US witnessed a decline from 36,599 leading scientists in 2020 to 31,781 in 2024. This led to a drop in its global share from nearly 33% to 27%.
The Geographic Distribution of Top Scientists
The report’s findings also shed light on the geographic distribution of these top-tier scientists. In China, the concentration of leading researchers was primarily centred on the country’s east coast and in first-tier cities. In the United States, the majority were clustered in universities and research institutes in California and Massachusetts.
The Chinese Academy of Sciences, the world’s largest scientific organization with over 100 institutes nationwide, emerged as the top institution, boasting 3,615 leading scientists. This surpasses the numbers at Harvard University (1,683) and Stanford University (1,208), which are among the most prestigious academic institutions in the US. This suggests that certain regions within each country have become magnets for scientific talent, attracting and retaining the brightest minds.
The Decline of Top Scientists in Other Major Countries
While China and the US remained the dominant players in the global scientific arena, the report also revealed a decline in the number and global percentage of top scientists in other major economies. Germany, for example, maintained relatively stable numbers of leading scientists over the five-year period, showing only a slight decline. In contrast, the United Kingdom and France exhibited a downward trend in their share of the world’s top scientific talent.
Japan and Australia also saw declines in both the number and global percentage of their leading scientists. This highlights the rise of China and the US in science as they solidify their positions.
The Implications of China’s Rise
In 2023, a report was released by the Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China under the Ministry of Science and Technology. It revealed that China had overtaken the US for the first time to become the top contributor of academic papers published in the most influential international journals.
Furthermore, the latest issue of the prestigious scientific journal Nature, published on January 8, 2025, featured almost half of the studies that included work by ethnic Chinese researchers. These developments signify that China is emerging as a formidable player that is challenging the long-standing dominance of the US.
Significance of Global Top Scientists List
Dongbi Data also released the Global Top Journals List across all disciplines, aiming to rank and select international academic journals. This initiative by Chinese scientists aims to establish a rating system that resonates internationally and supports China’s scientific advancements.
Li Gang, Dean of the Wuhan Data Intelligence Research Institute, emphasized the narrative power in international academia. The establishment of an influential and internationally recognized journal list from China can enhance the acceptance of Chinese academic publications globally.
The Way Forward
The report’s findings highlight the need for the US and other nations to examine their strategies for nurturing scientific talent. The dramatic shift in the distribution of top scientists has far-reaching implications for the future of global scientific collaboration.
As China strengthens its position, the dynamics between the US and China in research and development will undoubtedly evolve. Overall, the report’s findings underscore the rise of China in the number of top scientists globally.
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