According to statistics revealed last year, in 2016, a total of 1,568 billion yuan was invested in R&D across China, an increase of 10.6% over the previous year. And the ratio of R&D expense to GDP was 2.1%. Nationally, Beijing and Shanghai invested more than 100 billion yuan in R&D and ranked first and second respectively. David spoke highly of Shanghai in this regard. “That's very positive. As a scientist, you want to see scientific research backed in a very serious way so science can make significant progress. I know China is one of the largest producers of scientific papers in the world, I think in part because of efforts like what’s going on in Shanghai.”

David also observes that there has been acceleration in the amount of funding for “big science”, which he believes is a very positive change. Big science refers to ambitious interdisciplinary projects which require a lot of funding and expensive and complex devices. For instance, in the Institute of Science and Technology for Brain inspired Intelligence at Fudan University, which houses the center where David works, there’s lots of money for equipment and personnel. Right now they’re buying state-of-the-art magnetic resonance imaging machines. Indeed this Institute, as one of the largest brain science institutes in Shanghai, is dedicated to developing technologies of the future, like brain-inspired AI, and is helping to empower China’s Brain Project, along with finding cures for major brain diseases like depression. Delighted by the attractive R&D environment of Shanghai, David said, “There is money in the system that allows people to do very modern things, very complex things at the cutting edge of the subject.”

Standing at the forefront of the world of science and technology, David also talked about the status of research in the whole country. Compared with other countries, China, in his eyes, is now placing much focus on applied research, which is correct for a developing country seeking to better the society. However, as a fundamental researcher himself, he thinks both fundamental and applied work should also be emphasized. “Purely curiosity driven research, most of the time, produces nothing very special, but sometimes something completely unexpected arises. Crazy ideas may come to fruition and change many things.”