Global gross expenditures on R&D (GERD) are estimated to increase 2.7% in 2013 to $1,558 billion in terms of purchasing power parity, or 1.8% of GDP. In 2014, GERD is expected to grow 3.9%. The top 10 countries accounted for about 80% of GERD. Asia, the Americas, Europe and Rest of World accounted for 38%, 34%, 22% and 5%, respectively, of GERD in 2013. The US, China, Japan and Germany accounted for 31%, 17, 11% and 6%, respectively. US R&D spending is expected to grow 3.2% in 2014 to $465 billion, or 1.0% adjusted for inflation, compared with nearly flat growth this year. China’s R&D spending is forecast to expand 10.1% to $284 billion, following 11.2% growth this year. In 2014, European R&D spending is expected to grow 0.7% to $351 billion. Global life science spending is forecast to rise 3.1% in 2014 to $201.3 billion, following a 1.2% decline in 2013. The US represented 46% of global life science R&D spending this year. Worldwide R&D spending by the energy industry is expected to rise 4.8% next year to $21.8 billion. In 2013, it is estimated to have grown 0.1%. For chemicals and advanced materials, global R&D is estimated to have risen 0.1% this year and is expected to grow 4.6% in 2014 to $45.3 billion. In a survey of 915 researchers, 29% of non-US respondents and 36% of US respondents identified limited external funding as the greatest challenge.

Source: Battelle and R&D Magazine