(Yicai Global) Aug. 27 -- China invested CNY2.21 trillion (USD318.4 billion) in research and development last year in a CNY246.57 billion (USD35.52 billion)or 12.5 percent rise on the year before.

This was a 2.23 percent ratio of R&D outlays to gross domestic product that was 0.09 percentage points more than the previous year, according to data the National Bureau of Statistics released today.

The country as a whole spent CNY380.04 billion on high-tech manufacturing in a 2.41 percent ratio to operating income that was up 0.14 percentage points on the year.

Companies disbursed CNY169.22 billion on R&D in 11.1 percent growth over the previous year, and government-owned research institutions' payments were CNY308.08 billion, climbing 14.5 percent, while universities' outgoings of CNY179.66 billion represented a 23.2 percent annual spike.

Editor: Ben Armour