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Summary of Results (2012)
Results of the Survey of Research and Development
R&D Expenditure
Japan's total expenditure on R&D during fiscal year (FY) 2011 stood at 17.38 trillion yen, an increase of 1.6 percent from the previous fiscal year. It increased for the first time in four years.
Expenditure on R&D as a percentage of GDP was 3.67 percent, an increase of 0.11 point percent from the previous fiscal year.
With regards to R&D expenditures on the priority issues in the Fourth Science and Technology Basic Plan (2011-2015), "Recovery and Reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake" stood at 64 billion yen, "Promotion of Green Innovation" stood at 507 billion yen, "Promotion of Life Innovation" stood at 717 billion yen.
For R&D expenditures by main industries of business enterprises, "Transportation equipment" stood at 2.24 trillion yen, "Information and communication electronics equipment" stood at 1.75 trillion yen, "Drugs and medicines" stood at 1.23 trillion yen.
R&D Personnel
As of 31 March 2012, researchers numbered 844,400, up 0.2 percent from the previous year. It is the highest figure in the past years.
Female researchers numbered 124,700, and accounted for 14.0 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 2.39 trillion yen, a decrease of 2.1 percent from previous fiscal year.
Payments for technology imports stood at 415 billion yen, a decrease of 21.8 percent from the previous fiscal year. It is decreasing for four consecutive years.
Receipts from technology exports minus payments from technology imports stood at 1.97 trillion yen, an increase of 3.4 percent from the previous fiscal year. It is the highest figure in the past years.
