China world's third-largest producer of research articles

In a recent report by the National Science Foundation (NSF), China was found to be the world’s third-largest producer of research articles. The number of papers authored by Chinese scientists grew an average of more than 15 percent annually between 2001 and 2011.

Mark Boroush, an NSF statistician, says that while the rise in China’s research output may threaten the United States’ position as a global leader in science and technology, it doesn’t mean that U.S. capabilities in science are eroding.

Arizona State University's Denis Simon, an expert on Chinese science and innovation, said although there is an increase in quantity of research coming out of China, there is nothing to indicate that it is consistently innovative. “The centre of gravity for creativity in research still resides in the West,” he said.