China's R&D Spending Surpasses OECD Average for the First Time
According to the South China Morning Post, China's research and development spending as a percentage of gross domestic product surpassed the average for Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) members in 2025, reaching 2.8 per cent, while the OECD average was 2.7 per cent. Officials indicated plans to enhance basic research and technological self-sufficiency.
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The South China Morning Post reports that for the first time, China's investment in research and development as a proportion of its gross domestic product has surpassed the average for Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) members. This development is viewed by one analyst as a sign of China's efforts to bolster technological self-reliance amidst increasing worldwide rivalry, and this trend is anticipated to persist.
Science and Technology Minister Yin Hejun stated at a press conference on Tuesday that R&D spending exceeded 3.92 trillion yuan (US$584.8 billion) in 2025, accounting for 2.8 per cent of GDP. The National Bureau of Statistics reported that the OECD average for that year was 2.7 per cent.
Wang Peng, an associate researcher at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, commented that this accomplishment demonstrated that China's investment in innovation has reached a level comparable to that of developed economies. Wang anticipated that the percentage of GDP dedicated to R&D is projected to continue increasing, with a heightened emphasis on enhancing research efficiency and optimizing how funding is distributed.
Wang further stated that it is necessary to consistently boost the level of investment in fundamental research to establish a firm basis for original breakthroughs of a 'zero-to-one' nature, while also ensuring that substantial R&D investments effectively convert into industrial competitiveness.
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