The latest technology tracker from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) highlights the significant gap in artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced analytics capabilities between Western countries and China.
According to ASPI’s research, China leads in research performance in advanced data analytics, with a 33.2% share of highly cited publications between 2019 and 2023. This is more than twice the share of the US (14.4%), which ranked second. The UK ranked fourth with a 4% share, behind India at 5.4%.
China also leads in the number of research publications on advanced analytics, with 8,672 papers published between 2019 and 2023. The US followed with 3,454 papers, while the UK ranked seventh with 719 papers.
ASPI’s analysis found that all of the top 10 academic institutes for advanced analytics are located in China, with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, and Xidian University taking the top three spots. In comparison, the UK’s Imperial College ranked 62nd.
When looking at the career trajectories of researchers in advanced analytics, China again stood out, with 180 undergraduate researchers compared to the US’s 125. The US led in postgraduate researchers with 226, followed by the European Union with 145, and China in third place with 88.
ASPI’s research categorizes advanced analytics as a subset of AI. In terms of AI algorithm and acceleration hardware, China emerged as the top contributor by 2023, with the US in second place and the UK falling to fourth behind India.
Entrepreneur Arnaud Bertrand pointed out the significant shift in innovation, particularly in China, and highlighted the biases and arrogance that may have hindered progress in the West.
One interesting aspect highlighted by ASPI is the inflow of top research talent to the UK, with the country attracting researchers from China, the US, the European Union, and India.
