International Science Organizations Accelerate Move to China
A growing wave of international science and technology organizations is establishing or relocating operations to China, reflecting the country’s rapid ascent as a global hub for scientific research and innovation. Beijing has emerged as the epicenter of this trend, now hosting 55 international S&T organizations — the highest of any Chinese city — with its dedicated headquarters cluster in Chaoyang District growing from 8 to 16 organizations in just three years, according to Science and Technology Daily.
A Strategic Push Backed by Policy
The influx is no accident. China’s ambition to attract international scientific bodies has been embedded in national policy for over a decade. The 13th Five-Year Plan (2016–2020) first mentioned attracting international organizations; the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025) explicitly guided international S&T organizations to register and establish headquarters in China; and the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) now specifically supports establishing such organizations within the country.
In February 2023, President Xi Jinping emphasized the need to “forward-plan and deeply participate in global science and technology governance, and join or initiate the establishment of international science and technology organizations” during a study session of the CPC Central Political Bureau. Three months later, China’s first International Science and Technology Organization Headquarters Cluster was inaugurated in Beijing’s Chaoyang District.
From Quantity to Quality
The trend is accelerating nationwide. Shanghai released its “Global Science and Technology Partnership Plan” in April 2026 to attract international S&T organizations, while Chengdu welcomed the International Society of Intelligent Perception in May 2026. According to the China Association for Science and Technology, 17 international S&T organizations were established in China in the three years leading to February 2025, and more than 2,000 experts within the CAST network now hold positions in international organizations.
Wang Changlin, Secretary-General of the International Society for Digital Earth, told Science and Technology Daily that his organization built the world’s first digital earth science platform based on China’s independently developed digital earth prototype system. UN Environment Programme experts called it a “milestone in the field of spatial information technology applications.”
Zhang Lin, Chairman of the Asia Simulation Federation, described a “6+6” business ecosystem integrating academic leadership, standard output, talent cultivation, and industrial empowerment — covering conferences, journals, standards, reports, competitions, and awards.
The ‘Real-World Science Laboratory’
Why are international organizations choosing China? Li Fei, an associate researcher at Zhejiang University’s China Institute of Science and Technology Education Strategy, points to the country’s “vast application scenarios, complete industrial chain support, and unique ‘real-world science laboratory.’” China’s diverse geography, massive industrial datasets, and long-term observation records provide an unparalleled testing ground for fundamental research breakthroughs.
Yu Xiaozhou, a professor at Dalian University of Technology and Chair of the International Astronautical Federation’s Space University Alliance Management Committee, noted that China’s diversified geographic scenarios and massive operational data make it indispensable for global space research. The alliance held its first Micro-Nano Satellite and Space Mission Symposium in China in September 2025.
A Shift in Global Science Governance
The movement of international S&T organizations to China comes amid broader shifts in global science governance. Li Fei argues that the system is transitioning from a Western-dominated “club system” to a multi-participatory “partnership system.”
“In China, international science and technology organizations are gradually becoming unbiased, cross-national, cross-camp basic research cooperation hubs,” said Wang Jia, Deputy Secretary-General of the World Young Scientist Association.
Provincial governments are competing to attract these organizations. Beyond Beijing and Shanghai, Shandong, Henan, Chongqing, and Hainan have introduced policies to attract international S&T bodies, while Guangdong and Jiangsu have established financial incentive mechanisms. Beijing has pledged to provide greater convenience in cross-border data flow, international internet access, and personnel entry and exit.
Broader Context: China’s Research Rise
China’s appeal is underpinned by its extraordinary research output. According to Nature, China’s overall Share in the Nature Index from September 2024 to August 2025 exceeded 38,000, on course to double that of the United States within two years. However, Nature also reports that geopolitical tensions are leading China to rethink research collaboration, with a shift toward regional partnerships and tightly controlled platforms.
What to Watch
As Beijing expands its International S&T Organization Headquarters Cluster’s functional zone — adding 10,000 square meters of space including service stations, exhibition halls, and cross-border network studios — the “magnetic effect” shows no signs of slowing. The coming years will reveal whether this trend reshapes global science governance and whether China can maintain its openness while navigating an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.