On May 30, Ba Yue Gua Technology Innovation Research Institute released the 2026 National Science and Technology Innovation Index Report (全国科技创新百强指数报告2026). Beijing retained its top position nationwide with 144 enterprises, universities, and research institutions included.

In terms of corporate innovation, Beijing demonstrates a strong concentration of sci-tech innovation resources, with a clearly defined innovation cluster ecosystem led by major enterprises and supported by multiple other entities.

According to the report, Beijing tops the ranking of the "National Top 500 Sci-Tech Enterprises" with 97 companies, a figure more than those of other cities in China, which accounts for 19.4 percent of the total. State Grid and Sinopec Group remain among the top five nationwide, while digital economy leaders, such as Baidu, JD.com, and Douyin, have secured prominent positions, forming a structure supported by both energy and digital giants. In terms of ownership structure, state-owned and state-controlled enterprises account for 83.8 percent of Beijing's shortlisted entities, while private enterprises make up 16.2 percent, reflecting a pattern marked by a dominant proportion of state-owned and state-controlled enterprises and the progress of all entities. In addition, 10 included manufacturing champions in specific fields are from hard-tech sectors, and two are national-level "little giants" (top enterprises among specialized, high-end and innovation-driven SMEs that provide distinctive products or services).

The city's higher education institutions also demonstrate strong innovation capacity, with outstanding strengths in fundamental research and industry-academia integration. According to the report, 13 universities in Beijing are included in the Top 100 list. Tsinghua University and Peking University have consistently ranked among the top universities nationwide for four consecutive years, while Beihang University and the Beijing Institute of Technology are in the top 20. Other universities, such as the University of Science and Technology Beijing, the Beijing University of Technology, and the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, also excel in their specialized fields. In terms of innovation output, Beijing's universities accounted for nearly 14 percent of all patent applications and licenses among all universities in China over the past three years.

Beijing is also home to numerous national-level research institutions, with abundant strategic sci-tech resources. These allow the city to remain in the leading tier in China for overall sci-tech innovation capacity. The report shows that 34 research institutions in Beijing are included in the top 100 list, ranking first nationwide. The China Electric Power Research Institute has topped the national research institution rankings for five consecutive years. Other institutions featured include the Aerospace Information Research Institute and the Institute of Microelectronics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the China Mobile Communications Research Institute, and Huaneng Clean Energy Research Institute. These entities are dedicated to China's national strategic fields such as energy and electric power, aerospace information, and semiconductors, serving as core forces in tackling key technologies.

(Source: Beijing Daily)