Exclusive: US government funding yielded hundreds of patents for China-based researchers
Research funded by the U.S. Defense Department, NASA, and other government agencies has resulted in over 1,000 U.S. patents granted to China-based inventors since 2010.
These patents cover sensitive fields like biotechnology and semiconductors. The data, which was recently reviewed by Reuters and supplied by the U.S.
Patent and Trademark Office, is expected to intensify calls to cancel or renegotiate the U.S.-China Science and Technology Agreement, which some critics argue disproportionately benefits China.
From 2010 to early 2024, the U.S. government-funded research contributed to 1,020 patents involving at least one China-residing inventor, including 197 in pharmaceuticals and 154 in biotechnology.
The Department of Health and Human Services funded 356 of these patents, while the Pentagon and the Department of Energy funded 92 and 175 patents, respectively.
The involvement of U.S. government funds in these patents has raised concerns among U.S. lawmakers, particularly regarding national security implications.
Representative John Moolenaar, chairman of the House’s select committee on China, expressed alarm over the situation, highlighting that U.S. taxpayers unknowingly funded patents claimed by Chinese entities, including those supported by the Department of Defense.
Despite requests, the U.S. Patent Office, NASA, and other involved agencies have not commented on the issue.