Beijing has once again secured its position as the world’s top science city in 2024, according to the latest Nature Index global science city rankings released on Thursday. The Chinese capital not only reinforced its leadership but also witnessed Shanghai overtaking New York to claim the second spot.
The Nature Index, which tracks contributions to research articles published in high-quality natural-science and health-science journals, revealed a significant shift this year. Impressively, half of the top 20 science cities are now in China. Provincial capitals, once relatively unknown in the global scientific community, are emerging as new hubs of innovation, standing alongside long-established centers in Europe and North America.
Simon Baker, chief editor of Nature Index, commented on this trend, stating that the rise of these cities as competitive research centers is fueled by a combination of scientific advancement, economic policy, and political strategy. “Their local goals are very much aligned with national strategies to bolster the country’s economic self-sufficiency,” said Baker, referencing policies like ‘Made in China 2025’ which aims to shift the nation towards knowledge-driven high-tech industries.
As China seeks to expand its global influence in knowledge and innovation, many rapidly developing cities are specializing in key technological sectors such as electric vehicles and solar energy. This strategic focus is positioning them at the forefront of technological advancement and economic growth.
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Beijing leads, provincial capitals rise in global science cities index
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