China’s top 500 private firms invest 1.26 trillion yuan in R&D, expand into AI and future industries
The All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce released its 2026 report on September 22, showing China’s top 500 private enterprises spent 1.26 trillion yuan on R&D in 2025, with 1.3449 million R&D personnel. Manufacturing firms accounted for 70.60% of the list. 311 firms invested in 679 strategic emerging industry projects, and 82 firms deployed 112 future industry projects in areas like AI, hydrogen energy, and biomanufacturing. Total revenue reached 44.93 trillion yuan, up 4.35%.
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China's Top 500 Private Firms Boost R&D Spending to 1.26 Trillion Yuan, Report Shows
According to a report released by the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce on September 22, China's top 500 private enterprises reported total R&D expenditures of 1.26 trillion yuan, with 1.3449 million R&D personnel and an average R&D intensity of 2.95%. The manufacturing sector remains the backbone, accounting for 70.60% of the firms, with its revenue reaching 32.22 trillion yuan, up 8.73%, and net profit of 1.09 trillion yuan, up 13.43%. The report indicates that these firms are expanding into strategic emerging industries, with 311 companies investing in 679 projects in areas like new materials, new energy, and advanced manufacturing. Additionally, 82 firms have initiated 112 projects in future industries such as embodied intelligence, hydrogen and nuclear fusion energy, and biomanufacturing. The 500 firms hold 848,700 valid patents and have participated in setting 11,904 national standards. The report also highlights accelerated digital and green transformation, with 60.60% of firms having formulated digital transformation and AI application strategies, and 83.40% adopting green technologies for low-carbon transition.
Read sourceChina's top 500 private firms report rising AI investment and overseas expansion in 2025
According to the '2026 China Private Enterprises 500 Strong Survey and Analysis Report' released by the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce on September 22, the top 500 private enterprises achieved total operating revenue of 44.93 trillion yuan in 2025, up 4.35%; total assets of 53.74 trillion yuan, up 5.05%; and net profit of 1.83 trillion yuan, up 1.31%. The report highlights that manufacturing firms account for 70.60% of the list, driving profit growth of 13.43% and R&D spending of 0.89 trillion yuan. AI and future industry investments are accelerating: 60.60% of firms have AI strategic plans, 311 firms invested in 679 strategic emerging industry projects, and 82 firms deployed 112 future industry projects in areas like embodied intelligence, hydrogen energy, and biomanufacturing. Overseas operations also grew, with exports up 11.25% and overseas assets up 17.61%. Researcher Li Zhiqi attributed the trends to policy support, technological innovation, and global supply chain restructuring, forecasting continued profit recovery as R&D converts into product competitiveness.
Read sourceChina's Top Private Firms Invest Heavily in Emerging and Future Industries, Report Shows
According to the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce's '2026 China Top 500 Private Enterprises' report released on the 22nd, 311 of these firms have invested in 679 strategic emerging industry projects, and 82 have deployed 112 future industry projects. The report, published by the Economic Daily, highlights that these investments reflect strong confidence from leading private enterprises. Key sectors include new materials, new energy, next-generation information technology, embodied intelligence, hydrogen energy, and nuclear fusion. The report attributes this trend to alignment with national strategic goals under the 15th Five-Year Plan, which projects that six major emerging industries—including integrated circuits, aerospace, biomedicine, low-altitude economy, new energy storage, and intelligent robots—could expand to over 10 trillion yuan in output by 2030. Improved legal and business environments, such as the private economy promotion law, reduce long-term investment risks. Additionally, the top 500 firms spent 1.26 trillion yuan on R&D, employed 1.3449 million R&D personnel, and held 84.87 million valid patents, enabling a shift from catch-up to leading innovation. The report concludes that private enterprises' mechanisms—market sensitivity, risk appetite, and flexibility—are well-suited to fast-iterating emerging industries.
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China's Top Private Firms Shift to Emerging Sectors Like AI and New Energy
An article from Economic Daily analyzes why China's leading private enterprises are increasingly investing in emerging and future industries such as new materials, new energy, next-generation information technology, embodied intelligence, hydrogen energy, and nuclear fusion. The primary drivers are identified as alignment with national strategic priorities outlined in the '15th Five-Year Plan' and significant market growth potential. The article cites estimates that six major emerging pillar industries—including integrated circuits, aerospace, biomedicine, low-altitude economy, new energy storage, and intelligent robotics—could expand their output to over 10 trillion yuan by 2030. It notes that improvements in the institutional environment and the Private Economy Promotion Law reduce long-term investment risks, while the accumulated R&D capabilities of top firms (1.26 trillion yuan in R&D spending, 1.34 million researchers, and 848,700 valid patents) enable a shift from catch-up to leading innovation. The piece argues that private enterprises' market sensitivity, risk tolerance, and flexibility are well-suited to the fast-iterating nature of these sectors, making such investments a rational strategic choice.
Read sourceChina's Top Private Firms Boost Investment in Emerging and Future Industries
According to a report released by the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce at the 2026 China Private Enterprise Investment and Financing Forum in Tianjin, the top 500 private enterprises in China are accelerating their transformation into strategic emerging and future industries. The report, based on a survey of 6,350 firms with annual revenue over 10 billion yuan, shows that 311 of the top 500 firms have invested in 679 strategic emerging industry projects, while 82 firms have entered 112 future industry projects. In 2025, total R&D spending by these firms reached 1.26 trillion yuan, with 1.34 million R&D personnel and an average R&D intensity of 2.95%, all up year-on-year. Over 60% of firms have adopted digital transformation and AI strategies, and 83.4% are pursuing green and low-carbon transitions. The report highlights that this structural upgrade, aligned with China's 15th Five-Year Plan, aims to foster new economic growth points and enhance industrial chain resilience. Total revenue of the top 500 firms in 2025 was 44.93 trillion yuan, with 110 firms exceeding 100 billion yuan in revenue.
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