The question is no longer if China will surpass U.S. R&D spending, but what happens next. R&D World’s 2025 Global Funding Forecast projects China reaching effective parity with the U.S. this year ($1.05T versus $1.07T in PPP terms), with a full crossover expected by 2026. While the specifics of the crossover vary based on your…
5 trends rewriting the rules of R&D labs
In 2025, R&D labs are being shaped by five interlinked trends. First, self-improving labs can dramatically shorten timelines. Second, cross-disciplinary science merges fields like biology, physics, and computing (as seen with DeepMind’s AlphaFold) to address complex questions faster. Third, virtual lab assistants reduce manual tasks. Fourth, lab robotics integrate robotic arms and liquid handlers, boosting…