From a staggering $2.5 trillion global investment fueling the ideas of today to the breakthroughs of tomorrow, research and development is the powerful engine of economic growth and innovation worldwide.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, global gross domestic expenditure on R&D (GERD) totaled approximately 2.5 trillion USD, representing 2.6% of global GDP
- Worldwide R&D intensity, measured as GERD as a percentage of GDP, increased from 2.2% in 2010 to 2.7% in 2021
- Private sector accounted for 69% of global R&D spending in 2021, amounting to about 1.7 trillion USD
- In 2021, the United States spent 806 billion USD on R&D, representing 3.4% of its GDP
- China’s R&D expenditure grew to 667 billion USD in 2022, accounting for 2.55% of GDP
- Japan invested 170 billion USD in R&D in 2021, with intensity at 3.3% of GDP
- Business enterprise R&D (BERD) in the chemicals sector reached 120 billion USD globally in 2021
- Automotive industry R&D expenditure totaled 140 billion USD in 2022, driven by EV development
- Semiconductors R&D spending by top firms exceeded 80 billion USD in 2022
- In 2021, the global number of full-time equivalent (FTE) researchers reached 9.5 million
- United States employed 1.8 million R&D personnel in 2021, 55% in business sector
- China had 6 million researchers in 2022, representing 56% of global total
- Global patent applications reached 3.4 million in 2022, up 1.8% from prior year
- Triadic patent families totaled 62,000 in 2021, led by Japan with 25%
- Scientific publications worldwide hit 2.9 million in 2022, with 15% open access
Global R&D spending rose significantly in 2022 with the private sector leading investments.
Global R&D Expenditure
- In 2022, global gross domestic expenditure on R&D (GERD) totaled approximately 2.5 trillion USD, representing 2.6% of global GDP
- Worldwide R&D intensity, measured as GERD as a percentage of GDP, increased from 2.2% in 2010 to 2.7% in 2021
- Private sector accounted for 69% of global R&D spending in 2021, amounting to about 1.7 trillion USD
- Public funding for R&D globally reached 780 billion USD in 2022, with governments investing primarily in basic research
- Asia contributed 46% of global R&D expenditure in 2021, surpassing North America and Europe combined
- Global venture capital investment in R&D-intensive startups hit 345 billion USD in 2022
- Pharmaceutical R&D global spending was 238 billion USD in 2022, up 8% from previous year
- Information and communication technology sector led global R&D with 450 billion USD in 2021
- Global R&D tax incentives amounted to 140 billion USD in 2021 across 35 countries
- Clean energy R&D investments globally reached 25 billion USD in public funding in 2022
- In 2023, global R&D spending is projected to hit 2.6 trillion USD, with 4% growth rate
- Europe’s share of global R&D fell to 20% in 2022 from 25% in 2010
- Top 2,500 R&D spenders invested 1.4 trillion USD in 2021
- Development aid for R&D in low-income countries was 4 billion USD in 2021
- Philanthropic R&D funding globally estimated at 10 billion USD in 2022
Global R&D Expenditure Interpretation
The world is now betting nearly three trillion dollars a year on a smarter future, driven overwhelmingly by private companies and Asia's ascent, though a sobering look at the ledger reveals a growing innovation gap where Europe is fading and the poorest nations are barely on the page.
National R&D Investments
- In 2021, the United States spent 806 billion USD on R&D, representing 3.4% of its GDP
- China’s R&D expenditure grew to 667 billion USD in 2022, accounting for 2.55% of GDP
- Japan invested 170 billion USD in R&D in 2021, with intensity at 3.3% of GDP
- Germany’s R&D spending was 126 billion USD in 2021, or 3.1% of GDP, led by manufacturing sector
- South Korea achieved R&D intensity of 4.9% of GDP in 2021, spending 88 billion USD
- France allocated 58 billion USD to R&D in 2021, with 2.2% GDP share and focus on health
- India’s R&D expenditure stood at 50 billion USD in 2022, but only 0.7% of GDP
- United Kingdom invested 55 billion USD in R&D in 2021, reaching 1.7% GDP intensity after recent boosts
- Canada’s R&D spending was 32 billion USD in 2021, 1.7% of GDP, with strong business performance
- Brazil reported 18 billion USD R&D spend in 2021, 1.2% of GDP, emphasizing agriculture tech
- Russia’s R&D expenditure was 52 billion USD in 2021, 1.1% of GDP
- Israel led with R&D intensity of 5.4% GDP in 2021, spending 22 billion USD
- Sweden invested 16 billion USD in R&D in 2021, 3.4% GDP, high in ICT
- Australia’s R&D spend reached 37 billion USD in 2021, 1.8% GDP
- Italy allocated 40 billion USD to R&D in 2021, 1.5% GDP, focusing on green tech
- Netherlands R&D expenditure was 22 billion USD in 2021, 2.3% GDP intensity
- Taiwan spent 30 billion USD on R&D in 2022, 3.5% GDP, semiconductor heavy
- Singapore’s R&D investment hit 10 billion USD in 2021, 2.2% GDP
National R&D Investments Interpretation
In the global R&D arms race, the sheer brute force of America’s and China's spending is undeniable, yet the intensity of small tech tigers like Israel and South Korea proves that economic size isn’t everything—unless, of course, you’re planning for a future in semiconductors or cybersecurity, in which case size might not matter at all.
R&D Innovation Metrics
- Global patent applications reached 3.4 million in 2022, up 1.8% from prior year
- Triadic patent families totaled 62,000 in 2021, led by Japan with 25%
- Scientific publications worldwide hit 2.9 million in 2022, with 15% open access
- Venture-backed R&D firms produced 40% of new unicorns in 2022
- R&D spending correlates with 0.8% higher GDP growth per 0.1% intensity increase
- High R&D firms generated 2.5x more patents per employee in 2021
- AI-related patents surged 30% to 60,000 in 2022 globally
- Biotech innovations led to 250 new drug approvals in 2022
- Clean tech patents reached 1.5 million cumulative by 2021
- High-impact scientific papers totaled 500,000 in 2022, citation rate up 10%
- US patent grants 400,000 in 2022, 52% to non-residents
- EPO patent applications 199,000 in 2022, +2.5%
- China filed 1.6 million patent apps in 2022, 50% of world total
- R&D-intensive firms 20% more likely to survive 5 years
- New chemical entities approved 55 by FDA in 2022 from R&D pipelines
- Green patents grew 15% to 400,000 in 2022
- Tech transfer from unis generated 10 billion USD licensing revenue in US 2021
R&D Innovation Metrics Interpretation
While the world files a staggering 3.4 million patents and churns out nearly 3 million scientific papers, it's sobering to realize that genuine breakthroughs remain a rare currency, with high-impact science constituting a mere fraction and survival still depending on the relentless, unglamorous engine of consistent R&D investment.
R&D Workforce Statistics
- In 2021, the global number of full-time equivalent (FTE) researchers reached 9.5 million
- United States employed 1.8 million R&D personnel in 2021, 55% in business sector
- China had 6 million researchers in 2022, representing 56% of global total
- Women accounted for 33% of global researchers in 2020, varying by region
- South Korea had the highest researcher density at 17.8 per 1,000 employees in 2021
- Europe employed 2.2 million FTE researchers in 2021, with growth in PhD holders
- Japan’s R&D workforce totaled 840,000 in 2021, 70% in private sector
- India increased researchers to 253,000 in 2021, but low density per million inhabitants
- Germany had 760,000 R&D personnel in 2021, highest in manufacturing
- PhD researchers globally grew by 12% from 2015-2020 to 1.2 million
- Global researchers per million inhabitants averaged 1,200 in 2021
- Business R&D researchers worldwide 6.2 million FTE in 2021
- Higher education sector employed 2.1 million researchers globally in 2020
- Africa’s researcher population grew 20% to 180,000 from 2015-2020
- Denmark had 18 researchers per 1,000 workers in 2021
- Female researchers in STEM reached 40% in EU in 2021
- UK R&D personnel totaled 380,000 in 2021
- R&D technician roles globally 4.5 million in 2021
- STEM PhD graduates worldwide 250,000 annually in 2022
- Latin America researcher count 450,000 in 2021
R&D Workforce Statistics Interpretation
The global R&D race is a fascinating, lopsided chessboard: China fields sheer numbers, South Korea and Denmark boast impressive density, the US leans heavily on its private sector, Europe invests in advanced degrees, and everyone else is scrambling to grow their piece of the board while still trying to get more women into the game.
Sectoral R&D Funding
- Business enterprise R&D (BERD) in the chemicals sector reached 120 billion USD globally in 2021
- Automotive industry R&D expenditure totaled 140 billion USD in 2022, driven by EV development
- Semiconductors R&D spending by top firms exceeded 80 billion USD in 2022
- Aerospace and defense sector invested 45 billion USD in R&D in 2021
- Biotechnology R&D funding hit 52 billion USD in 2022, mostly in gene therapies
- Software and IT services R&D expenditure was 300 billion USD in 2021
- Energy sector R&D, particularly renewables, saw 15 billion USD public investment in 2022
- Healthcare R&D excluding pharma reached 70 billion USD in 2021, focused on medical devices
- Electronics R&D spending by consumer goods firms was 110 billion USD in 2022
- Agriculture tech R&D investments totaled 12 billion USD in 2021
- Aerospace R&D funding by governments was 30 billion USD in 2022
- Telecom R&D expenditure reached 130 billion USD in 2021, 5G driven
- Food and beverage industry R&D was 8 billion USD in 2022
- Nanotechnology R&D global spend 5 billion USD public in 2021
- Robotics sector R&D investments totaled 20 billion USD in 2022
- Mining and materials R&D expenditure 15 billion USD in 2021
- Fashion and apparel R&D for sustainability 2 billion USD in 2022
- Quantum computing R&D funding hit 5 billion USD globally in 2022
- Construction tech R&D spend 10 billion USD in 2021
Sectoral R&D Funding Interpretation
It seems the global R&D race has our priorities laid bare: we'll spend a king's ransom to connect our phones and our cars, but when it comes to feeding the planet or clothing it sustainably, we're curiously frugal.
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