Science, based on research, discoveries, and new technologies, has been cultivated in China for thousands of years, producing achievements that have been crucial to modern civilization. It is enough to recall that the Chinese invented paper centuries before Europeans, later developed printing, and even earlier created gunpowder and its military applications. Finally, there was the compass, which made long-distance sea voyages possible and contributed to the discovery of America and the sea route to India.
In modern times, despite very difficult conditions, Chinese science was promoted by Zhou Enlai, the long-serving premier during the era of Mao Zedong. The role of science was further strengthened by his successor, Deng Xiaoping, the architect of China’s current economic transformation. He argued that science was the most important informational and decision-making foundation of Chinese policy.
The role of science in Chinese policymaking is generally overlooked, while its successes, as elsewhere in the world, are often attributed to politicians. The implication is that Chinese politicians are geniuses, whereas in reality it is their scientific advisors who possess exceptional expertise, supported by dozens of world-class universities whose combined student population rivals that of Poland’s entire population. In addition, more than three million Chinese students study at universities in the United States alone. Attempts to reduce their numbers there have failed, as it became clear that they are a cornerstone of the financial stability of many American universities.
Money is not enough
This brief overview of Chinese science is important because the West is beginning to recognize China’s economic advantage resulting from its scientific development. Confirmation of this came in an extensive Reuters report published on the first day of June this year concerning the mass training of highly qualified personnel for the rare earth elements industry.
U.S. President Donald Trump and other Western leaders have pledged to invest billions of dollars to break China’s monopoly on rare earth refining—a powerful leverage tool that Beijing has used in its trade war with Washington.
China’s advantage
China still maintains a significant advantage in human resources, which it has developed over decades in places such as Baotou in Inner Mongolia, home to the world’s largest rare earth mine. In this respect, China’s dominance in scientific and technical personnel is overwhelming.
China has created an ecosystem of more than 40 specialized laboratories dedicated to rare earth elements, conducting pioneering research. These are supported by at least 11 universities and technical colleges that collectively educate more than 500 students annually in rare-earth-related fields. This accumulated expertise helps Beijing maintain control over global supplies of refined rare earth elements.
Reuters quotes the president of a Chinese university who stated that the institution’s new program is intended not only to advance science but also to ensure that China retains its position as a global leader in the development of rare earth resources.
The Beginning of imitation
Several American institutions have begun placing greater emphasis on rare earth elements in their academic programs, although Reuters was unable to identify any university outside China that offers a dedicated undergraduate degree in the field.
The Ames National Laboratory in Iowa, whose work extends beyond mineral sciences, is also highly regarded for its rare earth research. In this area, the United States is beginning to emulate its Chinese competitors.
One example is Valor Metals, which employs processes developed by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. According to the company, these methods are potentially ten times cheaper and faster than those currently used in China.
The Colorado School of Mines, widely considered one of the world’s leading mining schools, is partnering with the Department of Energy to establish two new critical minerals research centers that will complement existing programs. The first of these centers is scheduled to open in 2027.
An unpopular industry
Western mining executives and university professors argue that the mining industry has historically not been popular among students, many of whom view it as dirty, dangerous, and outdated.
According to data collected by the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration, based in Colorado, American universities awarded just over 200 undergraduate degrees in mining and metallurgical engineering in 2023, the most recent year for which nationwide data are available.
