China overtakes Japan in R&D

China will become the world's second highest spender on research and development, overtaking Japan for the first time in 2006, a study from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has revealed.

China is predicted to fork out $136bn on all forms of R&D, just ahead of the $130bn Japan is forecast to spend in 2006.

Inside China Special Report

From entrepreneurs at the Great Wall to Hong Kong's Octopus card - click here to see the China Special Report.

The US is predicted to stay top of the pops for R&D spend, with a tally of $330bn for 2006.

Dirk Pilat, head of the OECD's science and technology policy division, said the rapid rise of China in both money spent and researchers employed is stunning.

China now ranks second worldwide with 926,000 researchers, lagging slightly behind the US, which has more than 1.3 million researchers.