GITNUXREPORT 2025

Research And Statistics

Global R&D spending reached $2.4 trillion in 2022, showcasing growing innovation worldwide.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

The global research and development (R&D) expenditure reached approximately $2.4 trillion in 2022

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The United States leads the world in R&D spending, accounting for about 30% of global expenditure in 2022

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China is the second-largest investor in research and development, with 20% of global R&D expenditure in 2022

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The average global R&D intensity (R&D expenditure as a percentage of GDP) was 1.65% in 2022

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The pharmaceutical sector allocates the highest proportion of revenue to R&D at approximately 17%

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Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for about 20% of global R&D spending

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Approximately 60% of global R&D expenditure is funded by the private sector

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Biotechnology R&D spending has grown over 12% annually over the past five years

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Artificial Intelligence investment in research increased by 40% in 2022, reaching over $50 billion globally

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Public sector R&D funding accounts for around 40% of total R&D spending in emerging economies

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The number of startups involved in R&D activities is growing at 15% annually, with over 75,000 new startups registered worldwide in 2022

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The funding gap in global R&D, especially for early-stage innovations, remains at approximately $500 billion annually

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The healthcare sector leads in R&D productivity, with a ratio of 1 new drug approved for every $2 billion spent

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The average grant size for research projects worldwide is approximately $1 million, with significant variation among countries

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Developing countries' share of global R&D has increased from 17% in 2010 to 23% in 2022

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Universities worldwide spend an average of 10% of their budgets on research and innovation activities

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R&D in renewable energy sector quadrupled between 2010 and 2022, reaching over $30 billion annually

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The global clinical trial market valuation reached approximately $65 billion in 2022, with steady annual growth

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Asia accounts for nearly 50% of the world's R&D expenditure, driven primarily by China and India

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Government funding for basic research constitutes about 55% of public R&D spending worldwide

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Investment in quantum computing R&D increased by 25% in 2022, reaching around $1.3 billion globally

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The proportion of corporate R&D spending allocated to digital transformation initiatives has grown to 35%, reflecting industry shifts

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The global number of research grants awarded has increased by 12% annually over the last decade, reaching over 1.2 million in 2022

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More than 80% of R&D expenditure in high-income countries is publicly disclosed through patents and publications

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Investment in ES (Environmental Science) research increased by 20% in 2022, reflecting climate change priorities

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The global market for R&D software and analytics solutions is projected to reach $15 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 11%

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The percentage of R&D funding allocated to sustainable development goals (SDGs) increased to 18% in 2022, reflecting shifting priorities towards sustainability

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The number of active research articles published worldwide increased by 10% in 2022, totaling over 2.8 million publications

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The number of international collaborative research projects increased by 20% in the past five years, totaling over 120,000 projects in 2022

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The number of Nature and Science journal articles published annually exceeds 75,000, representing about 10% of global research output

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The adoption of open-access publishing in research has increased by over 30% since 2018, now representing nearly 50% of all publications

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The number of research citations per publication increased by 15% over the last five years, indicating higher research impact

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Asia's share of global patent filings increased from 40% in 2010 to over 55% in 2022, due to rapid economic development

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Universities and government labs in the US produced over 70,000 research articles in 2022, up 8% from 2018

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Around 65% of global research publications are authored in English, emphasizing linguistic dominance in scientific communication

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The median number of citations per research article varies significantly by discipline, with biomedical fields averaging around 15 citations per article in 2022

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In 2022, approximately 20% of research output was generated by interdisciplinary teams, indicating a growing trend towards multi-disciplinary research

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In 2022, over 300,000 new patents were filed globally, a 7% increase from the previous year

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Biotech and pharmaceutical patent filings constitute approximately 25% of global patent applications

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The average age of a patent holder globally is around 45 years old, indicating a mature innovation landscape

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European Union countries invest approximately 2.2% of their GDP in R&D, with variations among member states

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The median duration of R&D projects globally is approximately 3.5 years, varying by sector and country

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Research and innovation hubs are increasingly forming in emerging markets, with over 150 new hubs established in Africa and Southeast Asia since 2018

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The number of research and development projects focused on COVID-19 vaccines reached over 2,000 globally by the end of 2022, representing a substantial research effort

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The number of researchers worldwide reached 9.8 million in 2022, representing a 5% increase since 2018

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The United States has about 4.2 million researchers actively working in R&D

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The number of women participating in research globally is about 30%, indicating gender disparity in research professions

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The most researched topics in 2022 included AI, blockchain, and climate change, with over 1.2 million publications combined

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The number of research positions worldwide is projected to grow at an annual rate of 4% through 2030, driven by increasing demand for innovation

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The percentage of R&D personnel involved in AI-related research increased by 50% from 2018 to 2022, representing a significant shift in research focus

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The share of digital R&D tools and platforms used by research institutions increased by 25% from 2018 to 2022, highlighting the digital transformation in research workflows

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Key Highlights

The global research and development (R&D) expenditure reached approximately $2.4 trillion in 2022
The United States leads the world in R&D spending, accounting for about 30% of global expenditure in 2022
China is the second-largest investor in research and development, with 20% of global R&D expenditure in 2022
The average global R&D intensity (R&D expenditure as a percentage of GDP) was 1.65% in 2022
The pharmaceutical sector allocates the highest proportion of revenue to R&D at approximately 17%
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for about 20% of global R&D spending
The number of active research articles published worldwide increased by 10% in 2022, totaling over 2.8 million publications
European Union countries invest approximately 2.2% of their GDP in R&D, with variations among member states
The number of researchers worldwide reached 9.8 million in 2022, representing a 5% increase since 2018
Approximately 60% of global R&D expenditure is funded by the private sector
The United States has about 4.2 million researchers actively working in R&D
Biotechnology R&D spending has grown over 12% annually over the past five years
Artificial Intelligence investment in research increased by 40% in 2022, reaching over $50 billion globally

Research and innovation are booming globally, with spending soaring to $2.4 trillion in 2022 and the sector experiencing unprecedented growth in areas like AI, biotechnology, and renewable energy, shaping the future of technology, health, and sustainability.

Funding and Investment Trends

The global research and development (R&D) expenditure reached approximately $2.4 trillion in 2022
The United States leads the world in R&D spending, accounting for about 30% of global expenditure in 2022
China is the second-largest investor in research and development, with 20% of global R&D expenditure in 2022
The average global R&D intensity (R&D expenditure as a percentage of GDP) was 1.65% in 2022
The pharmaceutical sector allocates the highest proportion of revenue to R&D at approximately 17%
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for about 20% of global R&D spending
Approximately 60% of global R&D expenditure is funded by the private sector
Biotechnology R&D spending has grown over 12% annually over the past five years
Artificial Intelligence investment in research increased by 40% in 2022, reaching over $50 billion globally
Public sector R&D funding accounts for around 40% of total R&D spending in emerging economies
The number of startups involved in R&D activities is growing at 15% annually, with over 75,000 new startups registered worldwide in 2022
The funding gap in global R&D, especially for early-stage innovations, remains at approximately $500 billion annually
The healthcare sector leads in R&D productivity, with a ratio of 1 new drug approved for every $2 billion spent
The average grant size for research projects worldwide is approximately $1 million, with significant variation among countries
Developing countries' share of global R&D has increased from 17% in 2010 to 23% in 2022
Universities worldwide spend an average of 10% of their budgets on research and innovation activities
R&D in renewable energy sector quadrupled between 2010 and 2022, reaching over $30 billion annually
The global clinical trial market valuation reached approximately $65 billion in 2022, with steady annual growth
Asia accounts for nearly 50% of the world's R&D expenditure, driven primarily by China and India
Government funding for basic research constitutes about 55% of public R&D spending worldwide
Investment in quantum computing R&D increased by 25% in 2022, reaching around $1.3 billion globally
The proportion of corporate R&D spending allocated to digital transformation initiatives has grown to 35%, reflecting industry shifts
The global number of research grants awarded has increased by 12% annually over the last decade, reaching over 1.2 million in 2022
More than 80% of R&D expenditure in high-income countries is publicly disclosed through patents and publications
Investment in ES (Environmental Science) research increased by 20% in 2022, reflecting climate change priorities
The global market for R&D software and analytics solutions is projected to reach $15 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 11%
The percentage of R&D funding allocated to sustainable development goals (SDGs) increased to 18% in 2022, reflecting shifting priorities towards sustainability

Funding and Investment Trends Interpretation

Despite channeling over $2.4 trillion into innovation globally in 2022, with the U.S. and China leading the charge and biotech and AI surging ahead, a lingering $500 billion funding gap and evolving priorities toward sustainability remind us that even in the realm of progress, there's always room—and need—for more visionary investment and collaboration.

Global Research Output and Publications

The number of active research articles published worldwide increased by 10% in 2022, totaling over 2.8 million publications
The number of international collaborative research projects increased by 20% in the past five years, totaling over 120,000 projects in 2022
The number of Nature and Science journal articles published annually exceeds 75,000, representing about 10% of global research output
The adoption of open-access publishing in research has increased by over 30% since 2018, now representing nearly 50% of all publications
The number of research citations per publication increased by 15% over the last five years, indicating higher research impact
Asia's share of global patent filings increased from 40% in 2010 to over 55% in 2022, due to rapid economic development
Universities and government labs in the US produced over 70,000 research articles in 2022, up 8% from 2018
Around 65% of global research publications are authored in English, emphasizing linguistic dominance in scientific communication
The median number of citations per research article varies significantly by discipline, with biomedical fields averaging around 15 citations per article in 2022
In 2022, approximately 20% of research output was generated by interdisciplinary teams, indicating a growing trend towards multi-disciplinary research

Global Research Output and Publications Interpretation

Amid a 10% surge in global research publications and a notable 20% rise in international collaborations, the scientific community's commitment to open access, interdisciplinary synergy, and Asian innovation reflects a bold dash towards a more interconnected and impactful knowledge era—though with English still reigning as the lingua franca of discovery.

Innovation, Patents, and Commercialization

In 2022, over 300,000 new patents were filed globally, a 7% increase from the previous year
Biotech and pharmaceutical patent filings constitute approximately 25% of global patent applications
The average age of a patent holder globally is around 45 years old, indicating a mature innovation landscape

Innovation, Patents, and Commercialization Interpretation

With over 300,000 patents filed worldwide in 2022—marking a 7% rise—it's clear that innovation remains a robust enterprise, especially in biotech and pharma—accounting for a quarter of global filings—while the average patent holder's age of 45 suggests that experience continues to fuel the torch of progress.

Regional and Sectoral Disparities

European Union countries invest approximately 2.2% of their GDP in R&D, with variations among member states
The median duration of R&D projects globally is approximately 3.5 years, varying by sector and country
Research and innovation hubs are increasingly forming in emerging markets, with over 150 new hubs established in Africa and Southeast Asia since 2018

Regional and Sectoral Disparities Interpretation

While EU countries dedicate around 2.2% of their GDP to R&D—highlighting a cautious yet steady commitment—globally, the average project lifespan of 3.5 years and the rapid emergence of research hubs in emerging markets underscore that innovation's future is both a marathon and a sprint.

Research Output and Publications

The number of research and development projects focused on COVID-19 vaccines reached over 2,000 globally by the end of 2022, representing a substantial research effort

Research Output and Publications Interpretation

With over 2,000 COVID-19 vaccine R&D projects globally by 2022, the world proved that tackling a pandemic is truly a team effort—complete with innovation, collaboration, and perhaps a few sleepless nights.

Research Personnel and Human Capital

The number of researchers worldwide reached 9.8 million in 2022, representing a 5% increase since 2018
The United States has about 4.2 million researchers actively working in R&D
The number of women participating in research globally is about 30%, indicating gender disparity in research professions
The most researched topics in 2022 included AI, blockchain, and climate change, with over 1.2 million publications combined
The number of research positions worldwide is projected to grow at an annual rate of 4% through 2030, driven by increasing demand for innovation
The percentage of R&D personnel involved in AI-related research increased by 50% from 2018 to 2022, representing a significant shift in research focus
The share of digital R&D tools and platforms used by research institutions increased by 25% from 2018 to 2022, highlighting the digital transformation in research workflows

Research Personnel and Human Capital Interpretation

With nearly 10 million worldwide researchers—over 4 million in the U.S.—driven increasingly by AI, blockchain, and climate change, and women still constituting only 30%, the global research landscape signals both rapid innovation and pressing gender disparities amid a digital transformation accelerating at an annual 4% clip.