(ECNS) -- China's transformation from the world's manufacturing hub to a global leader in innovation gains momentum as researchers unveil a flexible solid-state lithium battery capable of withstanding 20,000 bends. Developed by the Institute of Metal Research under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the breakthrough underscores the nation's pivot toward high-tech, science-driven growth.
For decades, the label "Made in China" was synonymous with the nation's vast labor force and cost advantage, which made it the world's factory.
Now, as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and new energy reshape global industries, China's core competitiveness is increasingly rooted not in the scale of its labor force, but in the creativity and capability of its knowledge workers, transforming the nation into what some now call the "world's brain factory."
China has built a strong foundation for cultivating engineering and scientific talent. Since launching the "Excellence Engineer Training Program" in 2010, the country has established a comprehensive framework for nurturing innovation-oriented professionals.
Today, China boasts a large pool of R&D personnel. More than 5 million students graduate annually in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), ranking at the top globally, according to international think tanks.
Data from international think tanks shows that Chinese universities now produce the largest share of the world's top artificial intelligence researchers. This extensive, high-quality engineering and research workforce provides abundant intellectual fuel for the country's innovation engine.
With strong national investment in science and technology, China has produced a wealth of innovative achievements. According to its National Bureau of Statistics, in 2024, China's total R&D expenditure surpassed 3.6 trillion yuan (about $505.02 billion), ranking second in the world. Data from the Minstry of Science and Technology shows that the country has topped global rankings for international patent applications and high-level academic papers for five consecutive years.
The World Intellectual Property Organization's Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025 Report, shows that China has entered the global top 10 for the first time and continues to lead among middle-income economies worldwide.
Meanwhile, its comprehensive industrial system, encompassing 41 major sectors, 207 medium categories, and 666 subcategories, is the only one globally to cover all industrial divisions defined by the United Nations. This provides engineers with vast application scenarios to translate their ideas into real-world technologies.
From upgrading traditional industries toward greater sophistication, intelligence, and sustainability, to driving emerging sectors such as AI, robotics, and biomedicine, Chinese engineers are turning brainpower into the country's most renewable source of economic energy.
A China powered by innovation and brainpower represents more than just a supplier of affordable goods. It is now a creator of high-value products, breakthrough technologies, and transformative ideas, contributing not only to global economic growth but also to the collective progress of science and technology.
(By Gong Weiwei)
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