SEOUL, KOREA - A study said that China's level of science and technology has already overtaken that of Korea. In a research report "Comparison of Korea-China Science Technology Competitiveness" published on February 11, Hyundai Economic Research Institute said, "In terms of absolute numbers, China's science-technology prowess has surpassed that of Korea."

The report said that China's R&D spending in 2010 was US$104.3 billion, almost three times more than Korea's $38.0 billion. The Chinese R&D spending volume has grown 24 percent a year for 16 years from 1995 to 2010. As for the number of patent applications, China overwhelmed Korea (170,000) with 390,000 cases. Meanwhile, the number of articles published in SCI-level journals was 140,000, four times more than that for Korea.

 

Han Jae-jin, the principal author of the report, said, "As of 2010, in 26 sub-areas out of total 283 strategic science technology disciplines including electronic/information technology, medical, and biotech, Chinese companies have already outperformed Korean counterparts.