Hey, science squads! 🌟 Big news from the world of research: for the first time ever, cities in the Chinese mainland occupy six of the top ten global science hubs, says the Nature Index 2025 Science Cities supplement, released this month.
Backed by data from 2015 to 2024, the Nature Index measures institutional contributions to high-impact research using the "Share" metric. Here's the top ten lineup:
- Beijing – still leading the pack since 2016 with a 9.1% boost in Share from 2023 to 2024
- Shanghai – flexing a 20% surge in output
- New York metro area (U.S.)
- Boston metro area (U.S.)
- Nanjing (Chinese mainland)
- Guangzhou (Chinese mainland)
- San Francisco Bay Area (U.S.)
- Wuhan (Chinese mainland)
- Baltimore-Washington metro area (U.S.)
- Hangzhou (Chinese mainland)
🎓 Dive into subject strengths:
- Chemistry – cities in the Chinese mainland claim all top ten positions for the first time
- Physical sciences – six of the top ten spots go to cities in the Chinese mainland
- Earth & environmental sciences – six of the top ten are cities in the Chinese mainland
- Beijing reigns supreme, ranking first worldwide in all three fields
This shift reflects a wider trend: cities in the Chinese mainland are widening their margin as U.S. hubs dip slightly. It's a new era of global research power, where Asia's metropolises bring the heat in labs and campuses. 🔬🔥
Stay tuned to see how these cities keep evolving—science adventures await! ✈️🌍
Reference(s):
Nature: China extends science lead with most high-ranking city hubs
cgtn.com
