The objective of this paper authored by Technopolis Group in the framework of the “EU R&I Knowledge Network on China” | Service Facility in Support of the Strategic Development of International Cooperation in Research and Innovation (N°30-CE-0838742/00-87) is to provide guidance on where to find reliable data and evidence about R&I in China. It focuses on the data and evidence gap that exists with regards to research and innovation data for China. China is the largest country that does not belong to the OECD. Hence, OECD figures are not always complete and/or reliable. This paper provides an overview of the quality and timeliness of data on China's research and innovation system, where it is available, under what conditions and at what price.
The paper is based on desk research of Chinese and English language sources, complemented by interviews with two European China experts and two experts on R&D statistics.