China has overtaken the US in the number of leading scientists for the first time, with US figures declining significantly from 2020 to 2024. The report from Dongbi Data indicates a drop in America’s share of global talent, as China continues to rise in scientific prowess, based on extensive research of high-impact publications.
For the first time in history, China has outstripped the United States in the number of top scientists, according to new findings from Dongbi Data. The report revealed that the number of elite researchers in the US is on a downward spiral, plummeting from 36,599 in 2020 to 31,781 in 2024. Meanwhile, China’s scientific talent continues to surge, seizing a larger slice of the global intellectual landscape.
This shift in scientific prowess raises eyebrows in the global community, as it highlights a significant demographic trend. The research defined leading scientists as those who published influential works in prestigious journals. Spanning 2020 to 2024, the analysis sifted through over 40,000 pivotal papers to paint a clear picture of current academic titans across various disciplines.
The findings illuminate a pivotal turning point in global scientific leadership, suggesting that the balance of intellectual authority is shifting. With China’s increasing number of top-tier scientists and America’s dwindling figures, the competition for global scientific dominance intensifies. This trend may foreshadow new priorities and investments in the domains of technology and research, defining the future of global academia.
Original Source: www.scmp.com
