China is out in front in the race for nanotechnology patents, according to a recent white paper released at a Beijing forum. Over the past 25 years, the Chinese mainland has snagged 43% of the world's nanotech patents – nearly half of the 1.07 million granted globally since 2000.
That 464,000 figure outpaces the United States, Japan and the Republic of Korea combined. The report reveals strong focus areas: semiconductor devices, catalytic chemistry, biomedicine and new materials. Key hubs like Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Suzhou lead chip-related patents, while biomedical breakthroughs cluster in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.
The Chinese Academy of Sciences ranks number one among patent holders with over 23,400 nanotech inventions. More than 8% of these patents have been licensed or transferred, signaling that Chinese mainland innovators are turning ideas into real-world solutions faster than ever. 💡
As of May 2025, the field is booming: over 34,500 nanotech businesses, including 739 listed companies, employ nearly 10 million people across the Chinese mainland. With the global nanotech market set to hit $1.5 trillion by the end of 2025 – growing at 17% annually – this tiny-tech sector is proving to be a huge deal. 🚀
The findings were shared at one of the 10th International Conference on Nanoscience and Technology sub-forums, hosted by the National Center for Nanoscience and Technology in Beijing, reminding us of how rapidly the future is being built at the nanoscale.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
