Science popularization funding reaches record

China's national science popularization funding exceeded 20 billion yuan ($2.74 billion) for the first time in 2023, reaching a record 21.5 billion yuan, according to the Ministry of Science and Technology. The funding marked a 12.6 percent increase from 2022.

Public fiscal support from various levels of government was the main source, accounting for 77.7 percent of the total funding.

"This reflects the rapid development of science popularization in China's new era and provides strong support for the implementation of the newly revised Science and Technology Popularization Law," said Wang Ting, director of the China Research Institute for Science Popularization.

Wang added that China is the only country with a law specifically addressing science popularization. Last month, China passed its first amendment to the law since its introduction in 2002, which includes the designation of September as National Science Popularization Month to boost public scientific literacy.

The law aims to promote scientific literacy and foster a favorable environment for technological innovation. According to Wang, it also lays a strong foundation for China's goal of becoming a global science and technology powerhouse and advancing modernization.

Data for 2023 also revealed that over 3.1 billion yuan was spent on the construction of science popularization venues, while more than 2.2 billion yuan went toward funding science exhibits and facilities. The largest portion of funding — nearly 40 percent — was directed at organizing science popularization activities.

The Ministry of Science and Technology reported steady progress in science venue development, with the number of the nation's science and technology museums increasing to 1,779, which is 96 more than the previous year. Public participation in science popularization activities also surged.

The internet has played a key role in these developments, with over 2,000 science popularization websites and more than 1 billion followers on science-related WeChat official accounts nationwide.