China snatches first position from European Union in R&D in 2013. - A report published by the OECD on R&D spending in the world, illustrates that China is steadily assuming global leadership in this field. According to the Science, Technology and Industry: 2014 Prospects report, OECD countries only account for 70% of global R&D spending as opposed to 90% 10 years ago. The slack has been taken up by China and experts estimate that this year, for the first time ever, this country's R&D spending ($311 billion) is expected to be more than that of the 28 member states of the European Union ($292 billion). It could even surpass that of the US by 2019 (estimated at $400 billion), according to the OECD. The pace of research in China, namely the share of public and private spending on R&D in the country's GDP reached 1.98% in 2013 and is coming close to the average of OECD countries (2.4%). According to the report, the country has set itself the target of 2.5% by 2020 in this field. The report also notes South Korea's excellent performance, which is now in top position at a global level in terms of the pace of R&D being carried out (4.36% of GDP). Europe has had the most sluggish performance in the OECD's zone in terms of R&D spending because business investment in research started up again more slowly there than elsewhere, explained the experts. Although Northern European countries such as Germany, Austria and Denmark are due to attain the 3% GDP target by 2020, Southern European countries like Portugal, Spain and Italy are well below the 2% goal. (IL)