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Survey of Research and Development
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.
Chart 1 Growth of R&D Expenditures
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.
Chart 2 R&D Expenditures by Main Industries of Business Enterprises
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.
Chart 3 Number of Female Researchers
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.
Chart 4 Technology Transfers