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Medical Research in China - Market Research Report (2015-2030)

Berylin Cai Berylin Cai Beijing, China Last Updated: May 2025 7540

Revenue

$18.9bn

2025

$19.9bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

195k

Businesses

6,994

Wages

$X.Xbn

Medical Research in China industry analysis

Revenue for the medical research industry is expected to grow at an annualized 7.3% over the five years through 2024 to $18.9 billion. This includes a 4.2% increase in 2024. Revenue growth has been steadily slowing in recent years as the industry has matured, and competition for government funds and private funds has increased. Over half of the industry's revenue is derived from government funding.

Trends and Insights

  • The Central Government directly funds many non-profit research institutes, like the Chinese Academy of Sciences. This funding is mainly distributed through public foundations.
  • Experimental development for medical applications is a critical component of medical research. This phase involves taking the knowledge and insights gained from basic research and translating them into tangible solutions, therapies, and technologies that can be used in clinical practice.
  • Coastal areas have high levels of economic development and greater government funding. The Medical Research industry is mainly concentrated in economically developed areas like Guangdong and Jiangsu.
  • The government's financial support is the biggest competitive advantage. Medical research costs a lot and takes a long time. It requires the government to provide a series of policy support and financial investment.
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 7.3 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $18.9bn in 2025.

Trends and Insights

High research costs result in low profits in the medical research industry

  • Due to substantial domestic demand and the government's increasing funding for medical research, industry revenue, and value-added have grown strongly over the past five years.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Medical Research in China
Revenue (2015-2030)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2025-2030)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

More players are anticipated to enter the industry to become biotechnology companies

  • More medical research institutes will likely restructure into for-profit enterprises. Enterprise numbers in the industry are projected to increase at an annualized 1.3% over the five years through 2028, while establishment numbers are forecast to increase at an annualized rate of 3.1% over the same period.

Biggest companies in the Medical Research in China

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($short_0)
2024

There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the Medical Research in China industry for IBISWorld to include in this product.

Products & Services Segmentation

Medical Research in China
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Basic medical research, Applied medical research and Experimental development. Basic medical research is the largest segment of the Medical Research in China.

Trends and Insights

Experimental development for medical applications is the key of to medical research

  • The experimental development for medical applications is a critical phase in advancing healthcare, involving creating, testing, and refining new medical technologies, therapies, and devices.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The Medical Research industry in China undertakes basic and applied research and development in the medical and pharmaceutical fields. Enterprises include laboratories of medical research institutes, medical schools and biotech firms. The following research functions are not included in the industry: R&D activities by pharmaceutical or medical equipment manufacturing industries, research unrelated to the human body or human diseases, and the commercialization of medical research.

What's included in this industry?

Products and services covered in the Medical Research industry in China include Basic medical research, Applied medical research and Experimental development.

Companies

Companies covered in the Medical Research industry in China include .

Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

Related terms covered in the Medical Research industry in China include immunoprecipitation, contract research organization (cro) and polymerase chain reaction (pcr).

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The Central Government directly funds many non-profit research institutes, like the Chinese Academy of Sciences. This funding is mainly distributed through public foundations...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Experimental development for medical applications is a critical component of medical research. This phase involves taking the knowledge and insights gained from basic researc...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2025
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2025
  • Major market segmentation in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Coastal areas have high levels of economic development and greater government funding. The Medical Research industry is mainly concentrated in economically developed areas li...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2025
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

The government's financial support is the biggest competitive advantage. Medical research costs a lot and takes a long time. It requires the government to provide a series of...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Many institutions are public welfare. Medical research requires enormous time and money, and these studies are funded by the Chinese government.

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025

Detailed analysis

    External Environment

    Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

    Analyst insights

    The Chinese government provides significant support and oversight to medical research. Rises in medical demand in a given area increase research in that geography, driving de...

    In this chapter

    • External Drivers
    • Regulation & Policy
    • Assistance

    Key metrics

    • Regulation & policy level and trend
    • Assistance level and trend

    Charts

    • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 
    • Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 

    Detailed analysis

    • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
    • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
    • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

    Financial Benchmarks

    View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

    Analyst insights

    The investment cost of manpower and facilities is enormous. Medical research requires a significant amount of funding to upgrade and maintain research equipment.

    In this chapter

    • Cost Structure
    • Financial Ratios
    • Key Ratios

    Key metrics

    • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
    • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
    • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
    • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

    Charts

    • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
    • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
    • Investment vs. share of economy

    Data tables

    • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
    • Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
    • Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
    • Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
    • Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
    • Average Wage (2015-2030)
    • Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
    • Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
    • IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
    • Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
    • Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)

    Detailed analysis

    • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

    Key Statistics

    Industry Data

    Data Tables

    Including values and annual change:

    • Revenue (2015-2030)
    • IVA (2015-2030)
    • Establishments (2015-2030)
    • Enterprises (2015-2030)
    • Employment (2015-2030)
    • Exports (2015-2030)
    • Imports (2015-2030)
    • Wages (2015-2030)

    Top Questions Answered

    Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

    What is the market size of the Medical Research industry in China in 2025?

    The market size of the Medical Research industry in China is $18.9bn in 2025.

    How many businesses are there in the Medical Research industry in China in 2025?

    There are 6,994 businesses in the Medical Research industry in China, which has grown at a CAGR of 2.1 % between 2020 and 2025.

    How may import tariffs affect the Medical Research industry in China?

    The Medical Research industry in China is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

    How may export tariffs affect the Medical Research industry in China?

    The Medical Research industry in China is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

    Has the Medical Research industry in China grown or declined over the past 5 years?

    The market size of the Medical Research industry in China has been growing at a CAGR of 7.3 % between 2020 and 2025.

    What is the forecast growth of the Medical Research industry in China over the next 5 years?

    Over the next five years, the Medical Research industry in China is expected to grow.

    What does the Medical Research industry in China include?

    Basic medical research and Applied medical research are part of the Medical Research industry in China.

    How competitive is the Medical Research industry in China?

    The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Medical Research industry in China.

    Related Industries

    Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

    View all industries in China

    Methodology

    How are IBISWorld reports created?

    IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

    Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

    IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

    What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

    Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

    Key data sources in China include:

    • National Bureau of Statistics China
    • General Administration of Customs
    • People’s Bank of China

    Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

    These sources include:

    • Industry and trade associations
    • Industry federations or regulators
    • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

    Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

    How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

    IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

    IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

    Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.

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