There is a seismic shift happening in global scientific leadership: China is cementing its dominance in chemistry research, while Western institutions are facing cutbacks.
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Updated data from the Nature Index, tracking high-impact research from around the globe, has revealed Chinese universities now monopolise the top 20 spots in chemistry – as traditional US powerhouses such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) go into free fall.
Meanwhile, universities in the US and Britain are closing down chemistry departments, signalling a stark divergence in priorities.
Chemical research serves as the cornerstone of materials science, with innovative alloy materials, engineering plastics and rubber being applied in aerospace, construction and other fields. The chemical industry, covering sectors such as petroleum, pharmaceuticals and fragrances, forms an integral component of the global economy.
But the trend in the Nature Index could reflect the shifting global balance of scientific power – an ongoing transformation in talent and industry.
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The ranking of high-level research output, based on papers published between December 2023 and December 2024, show Chinese universities have maintained a dominant position in the chemistry category. The only competition from Western institutions in the top 20 has come from Germany’s Max Planck Society at No 13 and the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) at 18th.