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Survey of Research and Development
Summary of Results (2006)
Results of the Survey of Research and Development
R&D Expenditure
Japan's total expenditure on R&D during fiscal year (FY) 2005 stood at 17,845 billion yen, an increase of 5.4% from the previous fiscal year. It is the highest figure and keeps being on the increase for six years continuously.
The ratio of R&D spending to GDP was 3.53%, maintaining the highest rate in the past 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 26.7%; "Drugs and medicines", an increase of 15.5%; and "Transportation equipment", an increase of 13.3%; 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 20.8%, life sciences sector, an increase of 10.3% compared with the previous fiscal year.
R&D personnel
As of 31 March 2006, researchers numbered 819,900, up 3.7% from the previous year. It is the highest figure in the past years and is increasing for five consecutive years. Female researchers were over a hundred thousand for the first time and accounted for 11.9%. It kept the highest rate for two years.
Chart 3 Number of Female Researchers
As of 31 March 2006, the number of supporting staffs for the researchers was 216,200, a decrease of 1.3% from the previous year.
Technology Exchange
With regard to technology transfers by business enterprises, receipts for technology exports reached 2,028 billion yen, a record figure and up by 14.6% from the previous fiscal year.
Payments for technology imports reached 704 billion yen, also a record figure, and up by 24.0% from the previous fiscal year.
Chart 4 Technology Transfers