Brief Introduction

Statistics in this chapter reflect the basic information on scientific and technological activities in China.

I. Main Contents

Data on research and development (R&D) activities of the whole society,  industrial corporate units above designated size, scientific and technological institutions under the government and institutions of higher education； data on domestic and foreign patents application accepted and granted；data on production, research and development activities of high-tech enterprises； data on scientific and technological papers; data on import and export trade of high-technological products; data on technological markets; main economic indicators of enterprises in high-tech development zones; data on the scientific and technological activities in the system of associations for science and technology; data on comprehensive technical service departments’ operation institutions and activities, such as surveying and mapping, earthquake, meteorology, ocean and product quality supervision, inspection and quarantine.

Ⅱ.Scope of Statistics

Data on scientific and technological activities cover research and development (R&D) activities of enterprises and institutions of whole society, mainly including industrial corporate units above designated size, scientific research and technological development institutions and scientific and technological information and literature institutions of prefecture level and above under the government with independent accounting, full-time universities and colleges, affiliated hospitals, and enterprises and institutions engaged in R&D activities in relatively R&D-intensive industries (such as agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, fishery, construction, transport, storage and post, information transmission, software and information technology service, finance, leasing and business services, scientific research and technical services, management of water conservancy, environment and public facilities, health and social service, culture, sports and entertainment).

Ⅲ.Sources of Data

National Bureau of Statistics provides national comprehensive data on the basis of comprehensive reporting forms of science and technology; data on scientific and technological activities of industrial corporate units above designated size based on reporting forms of enterprises’(units’) R&D activities; and data on the enterprises in main service industry(including transport, storage and post, information transmission, software and information technology service, leasing and business services,  management of water conservancy, environment and public facilities, culture, sports and entertainment) based on the third national economic census. National Bureau of Statistics is responsible for providing estimation on enterprises and institutions in agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, fishery, construction, finance, health and social work based on recent surveys. Ministry of Science and Technology and State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense provide information on scientific and technological institutions under the government; Ministry of Science and Technology provides information on R&D activities of scientific research and technical service enterprises and institutions, scientific and technological papers, technological markets and enterprises in  high-tech development zones; Ministry of Education provide information on scientific and technological activities in institutions of higher education; General Administration of Customs provides  information on import and export trade of high-technological products; China Association for Science and Technology provides data on the scientific and technological activities of associations for science and technology; State Intellectual Property Office, National Administration of Surveying, Mapping and Geoinformation, China Earthquake Administration, China Meteorological Administration and General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine respectively provide data on patents, surveying and mapping, earthquake, meteorology and product quality supervision, inspection and quarantine.

Ⅳ.Statistical Methodology

Data on R&D activities are collected through complete surveys. Data on scientific and technological associations, patents, surveying and mapping, earthquake, meteorology, ocean and product quality supervision, inspection and quarantine are collected through sample surveys and other surveys.