China hits record R&D spending, unveils innovation push through 2030

BEIJING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- China achieved historic milestones in innovation in 2025, with R&D investment hitting record highs and breakthroughs in humanoid robots, AI and biotech.

China's total R&D investment exceeded 3.92 trillion yuan (about 569 billion U.S. dollars) in 2025, reaching 2.8 percent of GDP, Minister of Science and Technology Yin Hejun said Thursday on the sidelines of China's national legislature annual meeting, as the country unveiled plans to accelerate its momentum in innovation through 2030.

Basic research funding last year hit nearly 280 billion yuan, accounting for 7.08 percent of total R&D spending -- a historic first surpassing the 7 percent threshold, Yin said.

He also cited China's technological achievements, including the dazzling performance of humanoid robots, open-source AI models leading the global race, and breakthroughs in the semiconductor sector.

Last year marked a pivotal year for China's humanoid robot industry, which has achieved dual leaps in technological advancement and real-world scenario deployment, said Lou Qinjian, spokesperson for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress, at a press conference held ahead of the opening of the session.

Also in 2025, China approved 76 innovative drugs for market entry, and the total value of out-licensing deals exceeded 130 billion dollars, said Yin.

According to the major development targets for the 2026-2030 period unveiled in a government work report submitted Thursday to the country's top legislature for deliberation, China projects an annual average increase of at least 7 percent in nationwide R&D spending.

China will build three international centers for sci-tech innovation and turn them into world-class innovation engines, according to the report.

The country also proposes raising its value added of core digital economy industries to 12.5 percent of GDP over the next five years. ■