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Summary of Results (2009)
Results of the Survey of Research and Development
R&D Expenditure
Japan's total expenditure on R&D during fiscal year (FY) 2008 stood at 18,800 billion yen, a decrease of 0.8 percent from the previous fiscal year. It decreased for the first time in nine years.
Expenditure on R&D as a percentage of GDP was 3.78 percent, maintaining the highest rate in the past years.
R&D expenditure for manufacture of information and communication electronics equipment decreased 7.7 percent, manufacture of transportation equipment decreased 5.0 percent , and manufacture of electrical machinery, equipment and supplies decreased 4.3 persent 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 4.0 percent from the previous fiscal year, while nanotechnology and materials fields increased 6.9 percent, environmental science fields increased 2.6 percent, and life sciences fields increased 1.9 percent from the previous fiscal year.
R&D personnel
As of 31 March 2009, researchers numbered 839,000, up 1.4 percent from the previous year. It is the highest figure in the past years and is increasing for eight consecutive years.
Female researchers numbered 116,100, and accounted for 13.0 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 2,226 billion yen, a decrease of 10.3 percent from the previous fiscal year. It decreased for the first time in twenty one years.
Payments for technology imports stood at 600 billion yen, a decrease of 15.5 percent from the previous fiscal year. It decreased for the first time in six years.
Receipts from technology exports minus payments from technology imports stood at 1,625 billion yen, a decrease of 8.3 percent from the previous fiscal year. It decreased for the first time in sixteen years.
