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Summary of Results (2005)
Results of the Survey of Research and Development
R&D Expenditure
Japan's total expenditure on R&D during fiscal year (FY) 2004 stood at 16,938 billion yen, an increase of 0.8% from the previous fiscal year. It is the highest figure and keeps being on the increase for five years continuously.
The ratio of R&D spending to GDP was 3.35%, maintaining the highest record for three straight fiscal years.
The main industries that expenditure on R&D for business enterprises increased were "Electronic parts and devices", an increase of 18.1%; "General machinery", an increase of 8.0%; and "Transportation equipment", an increase of 4.4%; compared with the previous fiscal year.
Of the expenditure on R&D of the four priority sector for science and technology basic policy increased were spent by nanotechnology and materials sector, an increase of 9.3%, environment sector, an increase of 7.4% compared with the previous fiscal year.
R&D personnel
As of 31 March 2005, researchers numbered 790,900, up 0.5% from the previous year. It is the highest figure in the past years and is increasing for four consecutive years.
Female researchers accounted for 11.9%, up 0.3 point from the previous year and the highest rate in the past years.
As of 31 March 2005, the number of supporting staffs for the researchers was 219,000, an increase of 5.8% from the previous year after an interval of six years.
Technology Exchange
With regard to technology transfers by business enterprises, receipts for technology exports reached 1,769 billion yen, a record figure and up by 17.0% from the previous fiscal year.
Payments for technology imports reached 568 billion yen, also a record figure, and up by 0.7% from the previous fiscal year.
