BEIJING, December 3, 2025 — The Institutes of Science and Development, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CASISD), the National Science Library of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Clarivate today jointly released two reports, “2025 Research Fronts” and “Research Fronts 2025: Active Fields, Leading Countries/Regions,” at a joint forum in Beijing. The forum drew over 300 on-site participants and nearly 300,000 online viewers through live streaming.

The release identifies 128 research fronts, comprising 110 hot and 18 emerging fronts across 11 broad research areas, including agricultural science, botany and zoology; ecology and environmental science; geosciences; clinical medicine; biological sciences; chemistry and materials science; physics; astronomy and astrophysics; mathematics; information science; economics, psychology and other social sciences.

“The report raises new questions and challenges for the integrated development of science and technology, the economy, society, and various other fields,” said PAN Jiaofeng, President of CASISD. “A new round of scientific and technological revolution is surging forward, and the frontiers of scientific research are constantly evolving. Cutting-edge topics such as high-throughput single-cell technologies, dark matter detection, and the deep integration of artificial intelligence into scientific research and engineering practices have drawn widespread attention.”

The rapid development of artificial intelligence is reflected in several emerging fronts highlighted in this year's report. More than half of the 18 emerging research fronts are related to AI. In clinical medicine, one emerging front is the applications of the AI language model ChatGPT in the medical and health fields. In the biological sciences, a highlighted emerging front is the breakthrough in AI-driven structural prediction and design of biomolecular complexes. In economics, psychology, and other social sciences, there is an emerging front on the practical applications and risk management of generative AI in the business domain.

WANG Dujin, Director General of the Bureau of Academic Divisions, CAS, said: “The Chinese Academy of Sciences will continue to enhance its understanding of current situations and conduct forward-looking analyses in science and technology. We will conduct more visionary, strategic, and preparatory research. We aim to take on greater responsibilities and achieve new milestones in promoting high-level self-reliance and advancement in science and technology. Our goal is to contribute to the establishment of a strong nation in these fields.”

Emmanuel Thiveaud, Senior Vice President, Academia & Government at Clarivate, highlighted the value of the collaboration. “Our annual Research Fronts report, produced once again with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, helps us to envision the future of sciences and social sciences by identifying the hottest and emerging research specialty areas,” said Thiveaud.

Key findings from the “Research Fronts 2025: Active Fields, Leading Countries/Regions” report reveal that the United States maintains its leading position, ranking first in more than 50 percent of research fronts. China holds the second position, leading in over 40 percent of research areas.

Notably, China shows distinct leading advantages in six fields — agricultural, plant and animal sciences; ecology and environmental sciences; chemistry and materials science; physics; information science; and economics, psychology, and other social sciences — demonstrating solid research foundations, active frontier exploration, and prominent academic influence. China ranks second in geosciences, biological sciences, and mathematics, with overall progress visible. In clinical medicine, astronomy and astrophysics, China continues to improve and has entered the world's top five. The report indicates that the gap between China and the U.S. is narrowing, with the two nations collectively dominating the research landscape. The United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada round out the top five positions.

Since its inaugural release in 2014, the Research Fronts series has continuously refined its methodology and enriched its content. The reports have become valuable resources for the scientific community, government agencies, and the general public, offering comprehensive insights into global scientific and technological development trends.

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