Core Insights - The United States leads the world in the number of highly cited researchers, followed by mainland China and the United Kingdom. Mainland China has 1,406 entries, accounting for 20% of the total, showing an increase from the previous year. The Chinese Academy of Sciences tops the global research institutions with 258 entries [2][3][5]. Summary by Sections Global Rankings - The United States has 2,670 entries, representing 37% of the total, with a slight increase compared to last year, reversing a previous downward trend [4]. - Mainland China ranks second with 1,406 entries, making up 20% of the total, and has seen growth in the number of entries compared to last year [5]. - The United Kingdom ranks third with 570 entries, followed by Germany with 363, Australia with 312, and Canada with 227 entries [6]. Institutional Rankings - The Chinese Academy of Sciences leads globally with 258 entries, followed by Harvard University with 170 and Stanford University with 141 [11]. - Tsinghua University ranks fourth with 91 entries, while Massachusetts Institute of Technology has 85 entries [12]. Geographic Distribution - Entries come from 60 countries and regions, with 86% of the total entries from 10 countries, indicating a high concentration of top talent [7]. - The top five countries account for 75% of the total entries, highlighting the geographic concentration of leading researchers [7]. Interdisciplinary Research - A total of 3,562 entries were made across 21 Essential Science Indicators (ESI) disciplines, with 227 researchers appearing in two or more disciplines, and 31 in three or more, indicating broad academic impact [7].

Core Insights - The Ministry of Science and Technology emphasizes a dual approach of free exploration and goal-oriented strategies during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, enhancing the overall strength of basic research in China [1] Group 1: Talent Development - The number of basic research talent in China has increased from 472,000 in 2021 to 575,000 in 2023, indicating a significant growth in the workforce dedicated to foundational research [1] - The number of highly cited scientists in China is projected to reach 1,405 in 2024, representing a 50% increase from 2021 and accounting for one-fifth of the global total [1]