By Qaiser Nawab, Chairman, Belt and Road Initiative for Sustainable Development (BRISD)
The release of the Nature Index Research Leaders 2024 underscores a tectonic shift in the global research and innovation landscape. China, for the first time with a wide margin, has firmly cemented its place at the apex of high-quality scientific output, leaving Western institutions, particularly from the United States and Europe, struggling to maintain previous leads. With eight out of the top ten global research institutions now based in China, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) continuing its reign at number one, the message is clear: science and innovation are no longer the monopoly of the West.
According to the latest data, China’s “Share” in the Nature Index—a key metric assessing author contributions to peer-reviewed research in top-tier journals—has surged to 32,122, a 17% increase over last year. Institutions such as Zhejiang University and the University of Science and Technology of China have climbed impressively in rankings. The trend isn’t accidental; it is the fruit of long-term strategic investments in research infrastructure, talent cultivation, and state-supported innovation ecosystems.
A Paradigm Shift in Knowledge Power
Historically, science and innovation have been synonymous with Western hegemony. From the Manhattan Project to the Human Genome Project, the global narrative of research excellence has been shaped largely by institutions in the US, UK, and Western Europe. But that monopoly is unraveling.
As Simon Baker, Chief Editor of the Nature Index, noted, “China’s continued investment in science and technology is translating into rapid sustained growth in high-quality research output, which in areas such as physical sciences and chemistry is now far outstripping previously dominant Western nations.”
This is not just academic competition—it is a geopolitical realignment. Research leadership translates into technological autonomy, influence in global standard-setting, and the ability to define the rules of future industries—be it in quantum computing, green hydrogen, biotechnology, or AI.
The implications of this shift are profound. China’s dominance in research can serve as a vital engine for scientific cooperation, especially through mechanisms already embedded in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). More than just infrastructure, the BRI increasingly supports knowledge sharing, joint research platforms, and academic mobility. Countries that strategically align with this momentum stand to benefit from China’s scientific rise.
For instance, China’s “Science Silk Road” is expanding access to cutting-edge facilities for researchers from developing nations. Joint laboratories, university partnerships, and cross-border innovation hubs are increasingly becoming a reality. For a country like Pakistan, which faces challenges in R&D funding, brain drain, and limited high-impact research output, this offers a potential leapfrog strategy.
Lessons for Pakistan and the Global South
Pakistan ranks poorly in global scientific indices. Our share in high-quality research publications remains marginal, and our universities struggle with outdated curricula, insufficient laboratories, and fragmented funding mechanisms. The time has come to reimagine national policy with science and technology at its core.China’s model provides tangible lessons:
1. Policy Continuity and Strategic Vision: China’s success stems from decades of consistent policy direction. The 5-year plans, the “Made in China 2025” strategy, and the more recent 14th Five-Year Plan all reflect alignment between science and state policy. Pakistan’s approach, by contrast, suffers from frequent discontinuities and underfunding. Science ministries and commissions need independence, strategic vision, and cross-party backing.
2. Invest in People, Not Just Infrastructure: The Chinese government made talent cultivation a cornerstone of its rise. Programs like the “Thousand Talents Plan” and “Changjiang Scholars” brought back diaspora scientists and nurtured local researchers. Pakistan must urgently increase scholarships, improve research incentives, and stem brain drain by offering clear career pathways and international exposure.
3. Build Institutions of Excellence: China’s top institutions have global standing because of their research ecosystems, not merely their size. We must support centers of excellence in emerging fields—AI, quantum sciences, bioinformatics, and climate adaptation—with autonomy, merit-based leadership, and international collaborations.
The Global South, including Pakistan, cannot remain passive consumers of imported knowledge. We must aim to become active contributors to global science. The current trajectory of global challenges—climate change, pandemics, food insecurity—demands local innovation, not borrowed solutions.
China’s scientific rise also demonstrates that research is not a luxury—it is a development accelerator. High-impact research leads to industrial innovation, startup ecosystems, and economic competitiveness. As the Fourth Industrial Revolution reshapes global value chains, only those countries that lead in knowledge production will benefit.
The message from the Nature Index Research Leaders is not merely about China overtaking the US—it is about the global decentralization of science. This opens doors for new players, new voices, and new leaders. But only those ready to act, invest, and collaborate will benefit.
In a multipolar world, science must be democratized—and the time for the Global South to rise is now.
About Author
Qaiser Nawab is a global climate youth advocate and Chairman of the Belt and Road Initiative for Sustainable Development (BRISD). He writes frequently on youth empowerment, technology, and sustainable development.
