Tsinghua University’s recent surge in AI patent production has captured global attention, signaling a shift in the balance of innovation power between the United States and China. Between 2005 and the end of 2024, the Beijing-based institution has secured 4,986 patents in AI and machine learning, with over 900 filed in 2024 alone. This figure surpasses the combined total of MIT, Stanford, Princeton, and Harvard over the same period, according to data from LexisNexis.
China’s dominance in AI patents continues to grow, with the nation now holding more than half of the world’s active patent families in these fields. While the US maintains a lead in influential AI patents and top-performing models, the rapid growth of Chinese AI research highlights a significant shift in the global landscape. American institutions produced 40 notable AI models in 2024, compared to 15 from Chinese organizations, according to the Stanford AI Index Report.
China’s share of the world’s elite AI researchers, defined as the top 2%, has risen from 10% in 2019 to 26% in 2022. In contrast, the US share of this group fell from 35% to 28% during the same period.
Tsinghua University also holds the most AI research papers among the top 100 most cited, indicating strong academic influence. However, the US still holds the most influential AI patents, with Harvard and MIT consistently ranking ahead of Tsinghua in patent influence. This development underscores the intensifying competition in AI innovation, with both nations vying for leadership in this critical technology sector.