This is the highest increase among the government's major spending sectors, surpassing both defense (up 7%), diplomacy, public security and education, according to SCMP on March 5.
China's sharp increase in spending on science and technology in the 2026 budget is attracting the attention of international observers. Some areas prioritized for development by Beijing have many similarities with technology projects pursued by Elon Musk, from satellite Internet to brain-computer interface.
The priorities in the new budget and the outline of the next 5-year plan show that China is strongly focusing on the key technology sectors of the future. Including satellite internet, electric vehicles, artificial intelligence, new energy and brain-computer interfaces.
China has also identified science and technology as a strategic pillar for many years. Programs such as "Made in China 2025" or long-term development plans all aim to improve innovation capacity and technological autonomy.
Made in China 2025" is China's industrial strategy to upgrade production capacity and technology. The program focuses on fields such as robotics, AI, semiconductor chips, electric vehicles and aviation, laying the foundation for science and technology priorities emphasized in the 2026 budget.
In the coming period, Beijing will continue to promote areas considered "future technology", including new generation energy, embodied AI, quantum technology and 6G mobile networks. The government also encourages businesses and research institutes to increase investment in basic research and core technologies.
Increasing the science budget is seen as part of a long-term effort to maintain the pace of technological innovation and improve global competitiveness. In the context of increasingly fierce technology competition between major powers, many countries are also sharply increasing investment in research and development.
These fields coincide with many famous projects of Elon Musk. This coincidence makes many observers question: is China "listening" to Elon Musk's ideas when building a national technology strategy?
Experts believe that despite the similarities with Musk's projects, China's technological orientation mainly stems from domestic development needs: from ensuring technological security, promoting economic growth to addressing long-term challenges such as energy transition and production automation.
The intersection between China's technology strategy and Elon Musk's projects reflects the world's major technology trend, where countries and corporations are heading towards areas with potential to change the economy in the decades to come.
