Japanese expenditures on R&D declined 0.3% in fiscal 2012 (ending March 31, 2013) to ¥17.32 trillion ($20.8 billion). This marks the first decline in two years. The ratio of R&D spending to GDP remained 3.67%. Spending by business declined 0.8% to make up 70% of all R&D expenditures. R&D spending by universities and colleges grew 0.6% to make up 21%. Spending by nonprofit institutions and public organizations rose 1.6% to make up 9%. Transportation equipment, information and communication electronics equipment, and drugs and medicine accounted for 19%, 14% and 11% of R&D spending by enterprises, respectively. Chemical and allied products, and scientific and development research institutes accounted for 6% and 5%, respectively.

Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications