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... "Scientia potestas est " Knowledge is power!" That phrase was coined by English philosopher Sir Francis Bacon at the end of the 16th century, when England was one of the world's leading empires, both in terms of science and power politics. It was Bacon's aim to point out to his contemporaries that knowledge is of strategic use " a motto that's still valid today.

The global research landscape is currently facing a turning point: According to a new survey published in the "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences" (PNAS) periodical, Chinese scientists had already taken the leading role in almost half of all collaborations with US colleagues

in 2023. This is a historical figure that underlines Beijing's rapid influence gain. China now sets the research agenda when it comes to key international issues.
China's leading role: Change of power at the top based on new criteria

It's not just conventional indicators such as the prestigious, but also antiquated Nobel Prizes or mere publication numbers that reflect actual scientific power. China's rise is now measured by other criteria as well.

An analysis of some six million research papers shows that 45% of leadership positions in US-Chinese joint studies were in Chinese hands in 2023, compared to 30% in 2010.

If this trend continues, China will reach parity with the US in leading roles in strategic areas such as artificial intelligence, semiconductor research and materials science by 2027-8.

China is also in the lead in terms of scientific publications. According to the latest G20 Research and Innovation Report, almost 900.000 scientific publications originate from China, which amounts to a threefold increase compared to 2015.

In the Nature Index, which evaluates the 150 most important medical and natural science periodicals, China has long since overtaken the US. Among the ten leading institutions, whose publications in periodicals are evaluated by the Nature Index, seven are Chinese institutions.

The situation looks less flattering for the West with its approximately 20,000 scientific institutions: Harvard University in the US still leads the Nature ranking while positions 2 to 9 are occupied by Chinese universities exclusively. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US is ranked at position 10. ...