R&D Investment

In general, a large number of patent applications in a nation indicates active research and development by private companies. For more than 25 years, Japan has shared the second-highest position in the world in number of patent applications. R&D expenditure is another figure that shows Japan's power. Scientific R&D expenditure in fiscal 2000 increased by 1.9% from the previous year. By sector, R&D expenditure by industry and research institutes increased by 2.2% and 2.3%, respectively, from the year before. Statistics on technology trade are also an important index of a country's research and development level and technological strength. Japan scored high in this area in 2000, despite the struggling economy.