China's Persistent Dominance in Science Output and a Shift toward Homegrown Talents

As the world emerges from the fog of the pandemic, will China stay centre-stage for international research collaboration?

In recent years, China has experienced a remarkable surge in global scientific research. However, the landscape of international collaboration has undergone significant changes, particularly since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Data analysis conducted by Nature reveals emerging patterns that highlight a remarkable transformation in China's scientific engagement.

International collaboration, once a driving force behind China's scientific rise, has experienced a decline with some nations, while research strengths have become more distributed among Chinese institutions. Notably, China's collaborative output with the United States, its strongest partner, has witnessed a decline of 15% since 2020. Similarly, Canada, China's seventh-largest collaborative partner, has experienced a 13% drop since reaching its peak in 2020.