China’s “go global” strategy is expanding into uncharted territory as the country emerges as a major source of foreign investment into research and development operations.
Chinese companies have been setting up laboratories and research centres across the globe at record pace over the past few years. In 2016 alone they announced nine new overseas R&D centres for a total capital expenditure estimated at $224m, according to data from fDi Markets, an FT greenfield investment monitor.
With four months to go to the end of the year, the figures already represent a record annual high for China. Only US and German companies have been more active than their Chinese peers in the year so far.