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Summary of Results (2010)
Results of the Survey of Research and Development
R&D Expenditure
Japan's total expenditure on R&D during fiscal year (FY) 2009 stood at 17,246 billion yen, a decrease of 8.3 percent from the previous fiscal year. It decreased for two fiscal years continuously.
Expenditure on R&D as a percentage of GDP was 3.62 percent, a decrease of 0.18 point percent from the previous fiscal year.
R&D expenditure for manufacture of transportation equipment decreased 16.2 percent , manufacture of information and communication electronics equipment decreased 17.3 percent, scientific and development research institutes decreased 16.5 percent from the previous fiscal year.
With regard to the four priority fields to be promoted in the science and technology basic plan, information technology fields decreased 11.5 percent, nanotechnology and materials fields decreased 8.4 percent, environmental science fields decreased 5.9 percent, life sciences fields decreased 1.4 percent from the previous fiscal year.
R&D personnel
As of 31 March 2010, researchers numbered 840,300, up 0.2 percent from the previous year. It is the highest figure in the past years and is increasing for nine consecutive years.
Female researchers numbered 121,100, and accounted for 13.6 percent, both of which are the highest in the past years.
Technology Balance of Payments
With regard to technology balance of payments by business enterprises, receipts for technology exports stood at 2,015 billion yen, a decrease of 9.4 percent from the previous fiscal year. It decreased for two fiscal years continuously.
Payments for technology imports stood at 535 billion yen, a decrease of 10.9 percent from the previous fiscal year. It decreased for two fiscal years continuously.
Receipts from technology exports minus payments from technology imports stood at 1,480 billion yen, a decrease of 8.9 percent from the previous fiscal year. It decreased for two fiscal years continuously.