China’s R&D expenditure continued to rise in 2010, reaching CNY 706.26 billion ($111.1 billion), a 21.7% increase from 2009. Basic research spending totaled CNY 32.45 billion, an increase of 20.1%. Applied research, which the Chinese government defines as “creative research aiming at obtaining new knowledge on a specific objective or target,” grew 22.3% to CNY 89.38 billion. Experimental development, a term the government uses to refer to “systematic activities aiming at using the knowledge from basic and applied researches or from practical experience to develop new products, materials and equipment,” increased 21.7% to CNY 584.43 billion. Chinese business expenditure in 2010 was CNY 518.6 billion, a 22.1% increase. Government expenditure increased 19.1% to CNY 118.64 billion. University expenditure grew 27.6% to 59.73 billion. R&D expenditures by six provinces and municipalities, Jiangsu, Beijing, Guangdong, Shandong, Zhejiang and Shanghai totaled CNY 413.7 billion, 59% of Chinese national expenditures.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics of China