That plays a role obviously, but there's a bigger issue here as well that much of the research is driven by private interests. Even universities are reliant on private capital to operate. China's rapid technological progress stems from having state-driven R&D and centralized planning. The benefits are now becoming evident in China's leadership in AI-driven manufacturing, clean energy, and quantum computing, and many other areas. Incidentally, Bloomberg wrote about this just recently.

On the other hand, Western progress is hindered by fragmented policies, short-term priorities, and constant infighting. Despite similar R&D investments, China's scale and strategic patience yield greater returns, particularly in STEM fields and infrastructure development. This trajectory will likely secure China's leadership in technology going forward. The future belongs to those who build it fastest.