Japan is one of the world’s leading nations in research and development (R&D) spending. According to data from the World Bank, in 2020, Japan spent 19.74 trillion Japanese yen on R&D, equivalent to 3.4% of its gross domestic product (GDP). This is significantly higher than the global average of 2.2%.
The nation has consistently invested heavily in R&D over the past decade, with expenditures steadily increasing year-on-year. In 2015, Japan devoted 17.9 trillion JPY to R&D investment, which rose to 18.8 trillion JPY by 2018 before reaching 19.7 trillion JPY in 2020. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) predicts that expenditure will continue to rise further and reach 20 trillion JPY by 2022, resulting in a 0.1 percentage point increase compared with 2020 figures and placing Japan firmly above the global average for R&D spending as a proportion of GDP.
This commitment to investing in innovation is reflected in several aspects of Japanese society, including its corporate culture and technological prowess. Many of Japan’s corporations— such as Sony, Panasonic and Toshiba — are world-renowned for their cutting-edge products, demonstrating just how much emphasis the country places on research and development activity. Indeed, these firms have become cornerstone industries within the Japanese economy; their presence indicates a continued drive towards creating new technologies to propel the nation into becoming a powerhouse for development and progress.
Japan’s success stories go far beyond its corporate realm; its universities are renowned centres for industry collaboration and innovation, where groundbreaking advancements occur daily. This ambition has led to local successes (such as cultivating an ecosystem filled with early-stage start-ups) and international recognition (with Japanese scientists being rewarded Nobel Prizes across various fields).
Given this level of investment, it seems clear that Japan values R&D highly — choosing time and time again to invest precious resources into advancing its knowledge base, developing new technologies, and ensuring its future prosperity.