Thursday 10 July 2025

China is outstripping the rest of the world in artificial intelligence research at a time when AI is becoming a “strategic asset” akin to energy or military capability, according to a new report released today by research technology company Digital Science.

The report – entitled DeepSeek and the New Geopolitics of AI: China’s ascent to research pre-eminence in AI – has been authored by Digital Science CEO Dr Daniel Hook based on data from Dimensions, the world’s largest and most comprehensive database describing the global research ecosystem.

Dr Hook has analyzed AI research data from the year 2000 to 2024, tracking trends in research collaborations and placing these within geopolitical, economic, and technological contexts.

His report says AI research has grown at an “impressive rate” globally since the turn of the millennium – from just under 10,000 publications in 2000, to 60,000 publications in 2024.

Dr Hook’s key findings include:

• China has become the pre-eminent world power in AI research, leading not only by research volume, but also by citation attention, and influence, rapidly increasing its lead on the rest of the world over the past seven years.
• The US continues to have the strongest AI startup scene, but China is catching up fast.
• In 2024, China’s AI research publication output matched the combined output of the US, UK, and European Union (EU-27), and now commands more than 40% of global citation attention.
• Despite global tensions, China has become the top collaborator for the US, UK, and EU in AI research, while needing less reciprocal collaboration than any of them.
• China’s AI talent pool dwarfs its rivals – with 30,000 active AI researchers and a massive student and postdoctoral population.
• The EU benefits from strong internal AI collaboration across its research bloc.
• China dominates AI-related patents – patent filings and company-affiliated AI research show China outpacing the US tenfold in some indicators, underscoring its capacity to translate research into innovation.

“AI is no longer neutral – governments are using it as a strategic asset, akin to energy or military capability, and China is actively leveraging this advantage,” Dr Hook says.

“Governments need to understand the local, national and geostrategic implications of AI, with the underlying concern that lack of AI capability or capacity could be damaging from economic, political, social, and military perspectives.”

Dr Hook says China is “massively and impressively” growing its AI research capacity. Unlike Western nations with clustered AI hubs, he says China boasts 156 institutions publishing more than 50 AI papers each in 2024, supporting a nationwide innovation ecosystem. In addition, “China’s AI workforce is young, growing fast, and uniquely positioned for long-term innovation.”

He says one sign of China’s rapidly developing capabilities is its release of the DeepSeek chatbot in January this year. “The emergence of DeepSeek is not merely a technological innovation – it is a symbol of a profound shift in the global AI landscape,” Dr Hook says.

“DeepSeek exemplifies China’s technological independence. Its cost-efficient, open-source LLM demonstrates the country’s ability to innovate around US chip restrictions and dominate AI development at scale.”

Dr Hook’s report comments further on the AI research landscape in the US, UK and EU.

He says the UK remains “small but globally impactful”. “Despite its modest size, the UK consistently punches above its weight in attention-per-output metrics.”

However, the EU “risks falling behind in translation and visibility”. “The EU shows weaker international collaboration beyond its borders and struggles to convert research into applied outputs (e.g., patents), raising concerns about its future AI competitiveness.”

About Dimensions

Part of Digital Science, Dimensions hosts the largest collection of interconnected global research data, re-imagining research discovery with access to grants, publications, clinical trials, patents and policy documents all in one place. Follow Dimensions on Bluesky, on X and LinkedIn.

About Digital Science

Digital Science is an AI-focused technology company providing innovative solutions to complex challenges faced by researchers, universities, funders, industry and publishers. We work in partnership to advance global research for the benefit of society. Through our brands – Altmetric, Dimensions, Figshare, IFI CLAIMS Patent Services, metaphacts, OntoChem, Overleaf, ReadCube, Symplectic, and Writefull – we believe when we solve problems together, we drive progress for all. Visit digital-science.com and follow Digital Science on Bluesky, on X or on LinkedIn.

Media contact

David Ellis, Press, PR & Social Manager, Digital Science: Mobile +61 447 783 023, d.ellis@digital-science.com

The post New report shows China dominates in AI research – and is western world’s leading collaborator on AI appeared first on Digital Science.

Digital Science continues its support in the award’s third year

Thursday 21 November 2024

Digital Science, a technology company serving stakeholders across the research ecosystem, is pleased to announce its continued support of the APE Award for Innovation in Scholarly Communication, which is currently open for applications. 

The award, which is a joint initiative between Digital Science and the Berlin Institute for Scholarly Publishing (BISP), includes prize money of €1,000 and is presented to an individual who has brought innovation in scholarly communication to the community.

Nominees can be part of an organization, or they can be independent and self-nominated.

The 2025 award will be presented at the 20th Academic Publishing in Europe APE Conference in Berlin (14-15 January 2025).

Applications for the award close soon – on Sunday 15 December 2024 – and can be made via APE’s website.

Established to celebrate the 18th birthday of the APE Conference in 2023, the award was presented to Vsevolod Solovyov during the 2023 conference and to Laura Feetham-Walker at the 2024 conference.

Digital Science’s CEO, Dr Daniel Hook, said: “At Digital Science, we’re honoured to recognise those who seek to move the ecosystem that supports research forward. Through their contributions and innovative approaches, prior award winners have focused around improving the technology and culture of peer review, however we welcome nominations from any part of the scholarly communications process.

“This award aims to celebrate the achievements of individuals rather than products, and allows us to celebrate both those who have been innovative over a long timescale as well as those who have made a big bang!”

About Digital Science

Digital Science is an AI-focused technology company providing innovative solutions to complex challenges faced by researchers, universities, funders, industry and publishers. We work in partnership to advance global research for the benefit of society. Through our brands – Altmetric, Dimensions, Figshare, IFI CLAIMS Patent Services, metaphacts, OntoChem, Overleaf, ReadCube, Scismic, Symplectic, and Writefull – we believe when we solve problems together, we drive progress for all. Visit www.digital-science.com and follow @digitalsci on X or on LinkedIn.

Media contact

David Ellis, Press, PR & Social Manager, Digital Science: Mobile +61 447 783 023, d.ellis@digital-science.com

The post Applications open for APE Award for Innovation in Scholarly Communication appeared first on Digital Science.

Everything is pumpkin-spiced, and our attentions have turned to awards, as October not only heralds the closing date of this year’s Catalyst Grant program, but it is also the month that the Nobel Prize winners will be announced. Awards and prizes are a great way of incentivising innovation, but there are also challenges. People who win awards tend to win more awards in the future. Even putting yourself forward for self-nominated awards falls along the lines of privilege and confidence. And even if you win awards, there is no guarantee that it will have a positive impact on your research career as measured by traditional metrics of success.

How can we diversify the talents we celebrate and support, and ensure that no groundbreaking discoveries are overlooked, in order to truly tackle the global challenges we are facing as a society? This is something I chatted about with Dr Gilbert De Gregorio, Associate Director of the Frontiers Planetary Prize when we caught up at the Falling Walls Science Summit in Berlin in November 2023.

A ‘Nobel’ purpose

Alfred Nobel established the Nobel Prizes in the late 19th century to honour individuals or organisations that make extraordinary contributions in fields including chemistry, physics, medicine, economics, literature, and peace. The goal was to reward those who advance knowledge, promote human welfare, or contribute to peace. While his vision was inclusive, the early years of the prize often reflected the male-dominated world of science and academia.

The impact of winning awards

Winning a prestigious award like the Nobel Prize can transform a career. It brings visibility, funding, and opportunities, enhancing credibility and often leading to leadership positions or influence in policy-making. However, with the honour comes pressure – the recognition can be empowering but may also come with additional scrutiny and challenges, making it a double-edged sword.

Gender imbalance in science awards

All the winners of the 2024 science Nobel Prizes are men, especially at a time when more women are entering STEM fields and making significant contributions. This imbalance raises concerns about whether institutional barriers or unconscious biases continue to prevent deserving women from receiving recognition. The lack of diversity not only limits the acknowledgment of talent but also risks sending a discouraging message to future generations of women in science.

Why diversity in awards matters

Diversity in awards is critical because it ensures that people from all backgrounds are seen and celebrated. When prize committees recognise a wide range of contributors, it helps break stereotypes and demonstrates that success in science and other fields is not limited by gender or background. It also pushes institutions to create a more inclusive environment, giving everyone a fair shot at success and setting the tone for a more diverse future in STEM fields.

The Frontiers Planet Prize: A step towards more inclusive recognition

A positive example of how awards are moving towards greater inclusivity is the Frontiers Planet Prize. This prize recognizes groundbreaking research addressing urgent global challenges like climate change and sustainability. The organisers have made a deliberate effort to highlight the work of a diverse group of researchers, shifting towards a more inclusive vision of scientific achievement. By focusing on issues that affect society as a whole, the prize aims to recognize a broader range of contributions, creating a model for how other awards can diversify and better reflect the world we live in.

You can watch the full interview with Gilbert on our YouTube channel, and check out our Speaker Series playlist on YouTube which includes chats with some of our previous speakers, as well as our TL;DR Shorts playlist with short, snappy insights from a range of experts on the topics that matter to the research community.

With thanks to Huw James from Science Story Lab for filming and co-producing this interview.

The post Incentives for innovation – meet Dr Gilbert De Gregorio appeared first on Digital Science.

One of Digital Science’s most intriguing initiatives is our longstanding collaboration with Science Foo Camp (Sci Foo), an “un-conference” that challenges traditional meeting formats. Encouraging collaborative, cross-disciplinary conversations can help researchers explore new perspectives and form connections that fuel the development of fresh, impactful ideas. Here Sci Foo veteran Cat Allman gives the big picture of what this can look like – literally

Digital Science is all about supporting the development of new ideas by providing tools and services for researchers. One of the more unusual ways we do this is our long-term engagement with the annual Science Foo Camp (Sci Foo) and its global alumni community. We’ve worked with O’Reilly Media  (“FOO” stands for Friends of O’Reilly), Google and Nature since 2006 to bring together scientists from across the disciplines and others working in related fields for an “un-conference” to discuss new ideas around science broadly defined.

“What the heck is an ‘un-conference’?”

For anyone not already familiar, “un-conference” refers to a gathering where the participants create the agenda and content on the spot. The idea is that immediacy and spontaneity surface what people are currently working on or thinking about in a format that encourages collaborative conversations. Think of it as the “hallway track” at regular structured conferences: the people you meet and conversations that you fall into during meals and breaks that are so often more interesting and useful than the formal sessions presenting finished work. There are many variations on the un-conference format, some even more free form than Sci Foo and some structured to produce immediate output in the form of white papers, documentation of best practices, team goals, etc, in use by organizations like Microsoft, NASA and NGOs around the world.

The concept is neither unique to Sci Foo or new. While it is often credited to Harrison Owen’s seminal work in the 1960’s formalizing “Open Space Technology”, I think the idea is much older. Long before the Macy conferences began in 1941 there was the groundbreaking gathering in Berlin in 1828 that set the stage for interdisciplinary science gatherings.

“In September 1828 Alexander von Humboldt invited hundreds of scientists from across Germany and Europe to attend a conference in Berlin. Unlike previous such meetings at which scientists had endlessly presented papers about their own work, Humboldt put together a very different programme. Rather than being talked at, he wanted the scientists to talk with each other. Humboldt encouraged scientists to gather in small groups and across disciplines. He connected the visiting scientists on a more personal level, ensuring that they forged friendships that would foster close networks. He envisaged an interdisciplinary brotherhood of scientists who would exchange and share knowledge. ‘Without a diversity of opinion, the discovery of truth is impossible,’ he reminded them in his opening speech.” From The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt’s New World, Andrea Wulf.

Not quite 200 years later, Science Foo Camp (Sci Foo) works on the same principle: invite between 200-300 people working across the spectrum of sciences and technology, theoretical and applied, to come together and share their interests over a weekend un-conference. Include people working in science-related policy, ethics as well as the arts to gain additional perspectives. Keep the experience convivial and relaxed with physical spaces designed to facilitate low friction interaction and provide some hands-on activities that encourage open conversation – all while feeding the participants thoroughly and well. Sharing a meal is always an important part of building social connection.

Over the past 19 years more than 2500 people from 60+ countries have gathered, in person or online during the pandemic and beyond, to participate in the annual event as well as online sessions and Lightning Talk rounds held with our alumni network of past attendees. 2024 stands out as the first time Sci Foo was held outside of Google offices in California. Cambridge University in the UK was chosen as part of our continuing efforts to increase the diversity of our participants, with Americans *not* making up the majority for the first time since we began. Our plan is to continue to hold Sci Foos in other parts of the world to share the travel burden (time zones!) more equitably.

Sci Foo’s overall focus continues to be on building long-term collaboration between people who might otherwise not meet in a professional context. Tim O’Reilly likes to call it “Building new synapses in the global brain.” We like to think we’re making science better by helping people make new friends and colleagues with whom to create new ideas.

The post Where do ideas come from? appeared first on Digital Science.

Courtney is a founder and builder of moonshot factories; spaces housing teams working on projects focused on overcoming specific challenges within an organizational structure that has lower and fewer hurdles to clear to achieve their goals.

Courtney says that she would like to see the barriers to inclusion in innovation lowered so that everyone can build “buses to the future” rather than merely being passengers on buses built by others. By including more people, we can strengthen our innovative power to overcome the challenges faced by all of society.

If you’d like to suggest future contributors for our series or suggest some topics you’d like us to cover, drop Suze a message on one of our social media channels and use the hashtag #TLDRShorts. Subscribe now to be notified of each weekly release of the latest TL;DR Short, and catch up with the entire series here.

The post TL;DR Shorts: Courtney Hohne on engaged innovation appeared first on Digital Science.

George talks of his interest in innovation and how it works smoothly and productively in small groups before bureaucracy can take hold. However, once group sizes reach a critical mass of around 50, the progress of innovators is hampered by processes and admin. This echoes the thoughts of Clayton M. Christensen in his seminal book “The Innovator’s Dilemma”. It seems that research projects, big business and even grant funding bodies struggle with capturing innovation when lightning seems to strike randomly.

 “You don’t know where innovation is going to be, you just want to be ready to support it when it happens – and recognise it, and that is a very difficult problem.”

Subscribe now to be notified of each weekly release of the latest TL;DR Short, and watch the entire series here. 

If you’d like to suggest future contributors for our series or suggest some topics you’d like us to cover, drop Suze a message on one of our social media channels and use the hashtag #TLDRShorts.

The post TL;DR Shorts: George Dyson on fostering innovation appeared first on Digital Science.