Highlights of
Science and Technology Indicators 2017

Research Unit for Science and Technology Analysis and Indicators
National Institute of Science and Technology Policy (NISTEP)This material indicates the main points of the following reports released on August 9, 2017.
Science and Technology Indicators 2017, NISTEP Research Material-261

1Introduction
Science and Technology Indicators (from 1991, released annually since 2005)• S&T activities are classified into five categories: “R&D expenditure,” “R&D
personnel,” “higher education,” “output of R&D,” and “science, technology andinnovation.”• Approximately 150 indicators are used to understand the situation of Japan andthose of the selected countries.
• Long-term (since the 1980s) S&T activities of Japan and the selected countries
are shown if time-series data are available.
• In relation to twenty-five indicators, this edition introduces twenty new indicatorsand five indicators with improved visualization.
• In this material, New means a newly introduced indicator.

The main circumstances of S&T activities in Japan and the selected
countries derived from "Science and Technology Indicators 2017" areas shown on the following slides.

21. Circumstances in Japan and Selected Countries
in Terms of R&D Expenditure

Science and Technology Indicators 2017

• Japan's total R&D expenditure was 18.9 trillion yen in 2015 (OECD-estimate

Japan: 17.4 trillion yen), the world's third largest after the United States andChina.
[Changes in total R&D expenditure in the selected countries: nominal values(converted using OECD purchase power parities data) ]• The United States' total R&D expenditure was51.2 trillion yen in 2015, maintaining theworld's largest scale, followed by China with
41.9 trillion yen.

[R&D expenditure by sector in the selected countries (2015):
nominal values (converted using OECD purchase power parities data)]
Business enterprises
40

Universities and colleges

Public organizations

Non-profit institutions

Public organizations and Non-profit institutions¥ trillions
36.9

35

32.2

• The business enterprises sector
accounted for the largest percentage of
R&D expenditure in all of the selected
countries. This tendency is particularly
notable in Japan, China and Korea.

30• Differences between the businessenterprises sector and other sectors are
relatively small in major European
countries.

25
20
15

13.7

13.7

10
5

6.8
3.6

1.4

0.2

2.1 1.4

7.8

5.4
2.1

0.2

6.8
2.0 1.7

0
Japan

Japan
(estimated by
OECD)

U.S.

Germany

4.1
1.3 0.8

3.1
0.1

France1.2 0.3
U.K.

5.9

3.0
0.1
China

(Source) Science and Technology Indicators 2017, NISTEP Research Material-261, released on August 9, 2017

0.7 0.9 0.1
Korea

3

1. Circumstances
in Japanand the Countries
selected1.
Circumstances in Japanand Selectedin Termsinof terms
R&D Expenditurecountries
of R&D expenditure

Science and Technology Indicators 2017

• Japan's science and technology budget as a percentage of GDP is 0.65%(2015), ranked fifth after Korea, China, Germany, and the United States,
among the selected countries.
[Changes in government budgets for science and technology as percentages of GDP
in the selected countries]

Ratio of government budget appropriations oroutlays for R&D / GDP

1.6

%

Japan

U.S.

1.4
1.2

• The percentage of Korea
marks 1.21%, ranked top
among the selected
countries.

Germany(Federal and State(Lander) government)

1.0

France

0.8
U.K.

0.6
0.4

China (Central andProvincial governments)

0.2

Korea

0.0
1983 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 05 07 09 11 13 15 2016year• Second place is China with 1.02%, followed byGermany with 0.88%, the U.S. with 0.80%, Japan with
0.65%, France with 0.63%, and the United Kingdom
with 0.54%.
(Source) Science and Technology Indicators 2017, NISTEP Research Material-261, released on August 9, 20174

1. Circumstances
in Japanand the Countries
selected1.
Circumstances in Japanand Selectedin Termsinof terms
R&D Expenditurecountries
of R&D expenditure

Scienceand Technology
Indicators2017
2017
Scienceand Technology
Indicators• Proportion of the funds, and most of the funds flow to "business enterprises."

The flow from "business enterprises" to "universities and colleges" is small,accounting only for 2.6% of the entire amount used out of R&D funds.
[Flow of R&D funds from funding sectors to performing sectors in Japan(estimated by the OECD) (2015)]• The flow from "governments" to "publicorganizations" is largest with 49.6%, followed by"universities and colleges" with 41.9%.
(Source) Science and Technology Indicators 2017, NISTEP Research Material-261, released on August 9, 2017

• The flow from "business enterprises" to"universities and colleges" is small, accounting
only for 2.6% of the entire amount used out of
R&D funds.

51. Circumstances in Japan and Selected Countries
in Terms of R&D Expenditure

Scienceand Technology
Indicators2017
2017
Scienceand Technology
Indicators• Compared with other countries, Japan's direct government funding to businessenterprises is lowest.
• The direct government funding of Japan and the United States is concentrated onlarge-scale enterprises.
[Direct government funding and indirect government support to help business enterprises with R&D]

New(A) Country comparison (2014)(B) Comparison of major countries in terms of direct government funding(Government contributions to R&D expenditure according to the number of employees)

As a percentage of GDP
0.0
Russian Federation
U.S.
Korea
Hungary
Austria
Slovenia
SwedenFranceIcelandCzech Republic
IsraelBelgium
U.K.
NorwayIrelandChina
Estonia
Germany
Spain
Finland
MexicoNew ZealandPortugal
BrazilPolandItaly
Denmark
TurkeyAustralia
Canada
Japan

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5 ％

100%
90%
80%
70%
60%

85.5

86.5

250-499

21.5
5.5
8.6

20%

Direct government
funding of BERD

7.1
22.4

30%

Government contribution tobusiness enterprises' R&D
expenditure

79.5

8.2

40%

0%

>=500
69.7

50%

10%

39.6

46.7

30.9

16.2

2013

2013

2013

2013

U.S.

Germany

France

U.K.

Korea

3.4 trillions ¥0.2 trillions ¥0.3 trillions ¥0.2 trillions ¥0.3 trillions ¥

1.1
4.8
6.5

23.5

2013

2011

Japan
0.1 trillions ¥Indirectgovernment
support throughtax incentives

50-249

6.0
9.3
5.2

3.2
7.5
3.7

<=49

• Support for small- and medium-scale
enterprises also carries a certain weight inGermany and Korea.

• In Japan, indirect government support
is greater.

(Note) Direct government funding is the amount funded by the government to support business enterprises' R&D expenditure, which is expressed as a percentage of GDP. Indirectgovernment support is the amount of deducted corporate tax through R&D tax incentives, which is expressed as a percentage of GDP.
(Source) Science and Technology Indicators 2017, NISTEP Research Material-261, released on August 9, 20176

2. Circumstances in Japan and Selected Countries
in Terms of R&D Personnel

Scienceand Technology
Indicators2017
2017
Scienceand Technology
Indicators• The number of researchers (FTE) in Japan was 662,000 in 2016, the thirdlargest scale in the world after China and the United States.
[Changes in the number of researchers in the selected countries]
10,000 people
200180Japan*
Japan(FTE)

160

Japan(HC)

Number of researchers

140

U.S.

120

Germany

100

France
U.K.

80

China

60

Korea

40

EU-15
EU-28

20
0
1981 84

87

90

93

96

99

02

05

08

11

14

2016 year[The number of researchers (FTE) by sector in the selected countries]
Business enterprises

Universities and colleges

10,000 people

Public organizations

101.5

96.0

100

• For the United Kingdom, thelargest number of researchers
is found in the university andcollege sector.

Non-profit institutions

Others

120

80
60

48.6
39.2

40
20
0

29.9 30.6
20.2

13.7

10.2
5.3

3.0 0.9
Japan(2016)

U.S.(2014)

Germany(2015)

16.2
7.3

2.8 0.4

France(2014)

11.0

28.4

16.9
4.1 2.6

0.8 0.3
U.K.(2015)

China(2015)(Source) Science and Technology Indicators 2017, NISTEP Research Material-261, released on August 9, 2017

• The number of researchers inthe business enterprises
sector is the highest in most of
the selected countries.

0.5

Korea(2015)(Notes)(1) HC means the head count of researchers. FTE means the net
number of researchers when the degree of involvement inresearch is taken into consideration.
(2) Data on the U.S. are values estimated by the OECD Secretariat.
(3China's definition of a researcher up to 2008 was not fullycompatible with the OECD's definition, and consequently its
method of measurement was changed in 2009. For that reason,
there is a break between the years leading up to 2008 and 2009
onward.

7

2. Circumstances in Japan and Selected Countries
in Terms of R&D Personnel

Scienceand Technology
Indicators2017
2017
Scienceand Technology
Indicators• In the manufacturing industry of Japan, researchers with engineering-

related specialized knowledge account for a large proportion of the total
number of researchers.
New[Fields of specialization of researchers belonging to business enterprises in Japan (2016)]• The number of researchers specializing in
the field of "information science" is large inthe "information & communicationindustry."• In the "transportation equipment manufacturingindustry," a large number of researchers
specialize in the field of "mechanical engineering,shipbuilding & aeronautical engineering."(Note) Researchers' fields of specialization are classified according to the contents of their current research (operations).
(Source) Science and Technology Indicators 2017, NISTEP Research Material-261, released on August 9, 2017

• The number of researchers specializing in the"electrical engineering & telecommunications
engineering" field is large in the "information& communication electronics equipment
manufacturing industry.

82. Circumstances in Japan and Selected Countries
in Terms of R&D Personnel

Scienceand Technology
Indicators2017
2017
Scienceand Technology
Indicators• In an international comparison of research assistants according to theiroperations, the number of "other support staff" is higher than that of"technicians" in Japan, whereas the number of "technicians" tends to behigher in other countries.
New[Operation-specific number of research assistants for each researcher by sector in the selected countries]
0.8

PeopleTechnicians

Other support staff

0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1

Japan(2016)

Germany(2014)

France(2014)

U.K.(2015)

Universities and colleges

Non-profit institutions

Public organizations

Business enterprises

Universities and colleges

Non-profit institutions

Public organizations

Business enterprises

Universities and colleges

Non-profit institutions

Public organizations

Business enterprises

Universities and colleges

Public organizations andNon-profit institutions

Business enterprises

Universities and colleges(HC)Non-profit institutions

Public organizations

0

Business enterprises

Number of research assistants per researcher

0.7

Korea(2015)(Note)(1)Technicians (skilled workers and staff equivalent thereto) mean those whose primary tasks require technical knowledge and experience in one or more of the fields of engineering,
physics, life sciences, social sciences, and/or humanities. Normally, technicians are those who participate in R&D by engaging in scientific/technical tasks associated with the applicationof concepts or actual methods, or with the use of research devices, under the instructions of researchers.
(2)Other support staff are operating, administrative, secretarial and office work staff who are skilled or unskilled and participate in a R&D project or are directly involved in a similar project.
(3)Numerical values pertaining to "other support staff" at UK universities and colleges are not specified in the relevant reference material ("R&D Statistics" by the OECD), which is used as
the source of the above-shown values.
(Source) Science and Technology Indicators 2017, NISTEP Research Material-261, released on August 9, 20179

3. Situation
Japan
Selected
Countries
3.
Situation ininJapan
andandSelected
Countriesin Terms of
ScienceTechnology
Indicators2017
2017
ScienceandandTechnology
Indicators
Graduatesin Termsof Graduates• Approximately 90% of graduates of master's programs in "science and engineering" find"regular employment," and most of such graduates are employed for "indefinite terms."• Approximately 70% of graduates of doctoral programs in "science and engineering" find"regular employment," and only roughly 50% of such graduates are employed for"indefinite terms."[Career paths of graduates of master's programsin science and engineering]
Unknown

90%
80%

Other

70%
Further study

60%
50%

Regular employment

40%
30%

Among regular
employment cases,
for a fixed term

20%
10%
0%

1981

84

87

90

93

96

99

02

05

08

11

Among regular
employment cases,
for an indefinite term

14 2016 Year

• With regard to career paths chosen by graduates of master's
programs in "science and engineering" in 2016 (37,128 graduates),
the percentage of those who found "regular employment" was 87.6%.
The percentage of those who found "regular employment" for"indefinite terms" was 86.8% of the total graduates concerned, andthose employed for "fixed terms" accounted for 0.8% of the total.

100%

Percentages of career paths chosen by graduates ofdoctoral programs in science and engineering

Percentages of career paths chosen by graduates ofmaster's programs in science and engineering

100%[Career paths of graduates of doctoral programsin science and engineering]
Unknown

90%
80%

Other

70%
Further study

60%
50%

Regular employment

40%
Among regular
employment cases,
for a fixed term
Among regular
employment cases,
for an indefinite term

30%
20%
10%
0%

1981

84

87

90

93

96

99

02

05

08

11

14 2016 Year

• With regard to career paths chosen by graduates of doctoral
programs in "science and engineering" in 2016 (4,809 graduates),
the percentage of those who found "regular employment" was 68.6%.
The percentage of those who found "regular employment" for"indefinite terms" was 51.4% of the total graduates concerned, andthose employed for "fixed terms" accounted for 17.2% of the total.

(Note)(1)Graduates employed for indefinite terms mean those who are employed without a specific term of employment. Graduates employed for fixed terms mean those whose terms of
employment are stipulated as at least one year, and also whose prescribed weekly working hours are around 30 to 40 hours.
(2) "Other" means the total of "graduates newly enrolling in advanced vocational schools, overseas schools, etc.," "graduates who are in temporary employment," etc.
(Source) Science and Technology Indicators 2017, NISTEP Research Material-261, released on August 9, 201710

3. Situation
Japan
Selected
Countries
3.
Situation ininJapan
andandSelected
Countriesin Terms of
Scienceand Technology
Indicators2017
2017
Scienceand Technology
Indicators
Graduatesin Termsof Graduates• The percentage of graduates of master's programs in "humanities and social sciences"

who find "regular employment" has increased, and approximately 60% of the total
graduates concerned are employed. With respect to graduates of doctoral programs in"humanities and social sciences," although approximately 50% of the total graduatesfind employment, only roughly 30% of the total are employed for "indefinite terms."[Career paths of graduates of master's programsin humanities and social sciences]

Percentages of career paths chosen by graduates ofdoctoral programs in social sciences and humanities

100%

New

Unknown

90%
80%

Other

70%
Further study

60%
50%

Regular employment

40%
Among regular
employment cases, fora fixed term
Among regular
employment cases, for
an indefinite term

30%
20%
10%
0%

1981 84

87

90

93

96

99

02

05

08

11

[Career paths of graduates of doctoral programsin humanities and social sciences]
100%

Percentages of career paths chosen by graduates ofmaster's programs in social sciences and humanities

New

80%

Other

70%
Further study

60%
50%

Regular employment

40%
30%
20%
10%
0%

14 2016 Year

• During the 1980s, the percentages of those who found "regular
employment" and those who went on to "further study" were both
approximately 30%. Later, the percentage of those who found"regular employment" increased, reaching 56.3% among graduatesof master's programs in "humanities and social sciences" (11,458
graduates) in 2016. Among these graduates, the percentage of those
employed for "indefinite terms" was 50.5% of the total.

Unknown

90%

1981

84

87

90

93

96

99

02

05

08

11

Among regular
employment cases,
for a fixed term
Among regular
employment cases,
for an indefinite term
14 2016 Year

• With regard to Career paths chosen by graduates ofdoctoral programs in "humanities and social sciences" in2016 (2,135 graduates), the percentage of those who found"regular employment" was 45.1%. However, only 29.8% of
the total doctoral graduates were employed for "indefinite
terms," and 15.3% were employed for "fixed terms."(Note) (1)Graduates employed for indefinite terms mean those who are employed without a specific term of employment. Graduates employed for fixed terms mean those whose terms of
employment are stipulated as at least one year, and also whose prescribed weekly working hours are around 30 to 40 hours.
(2) "Other" means the total of "graduates newly enrolling in advanced vocational schools, overseas schools, etc.," "graduates who are in temporary employment," etc.
(Source) Science and Technology Indicators 2017, NISTEP Research Material-261, released on August 9, 201711

3. Situation
Japan
Selected
Countries
3.
Situation ininJapan
andandSelected
Countriesin Terms of
Scienceand Technology
Indicators2017
2017
Scienceand Technology
Indicators
Graduatesin Termsof Graduates• In Japan, the number of graduates in "natural sciences" tends to be high as theacademic stage advances, specifically among master's degree resipients and doctoral
degree resipients. In the selected countries other than Japan, the number of graduatesin "humanities and social sciences" is largest even among master's degree resipients,
and the number of graduates in "natural sciences" tends to be largest among doctoral
degree resipients.
[International comparison of academic degree resipients per one million of population]
Fieldclassification
unknown

5,000

Others

4,000
3,000

Natural scienceand engineering

2,000
1,000

Social sciences
and humanities

0
08 16 08 14 08 13 08 12 08 13 08 16 08 13 FYJapan U.S. Germany France U.K.
Korea China• With regard to bachelor's degree resipients, thenumber of those in "humanities and social
sciences" is large in many of the countries
concerned.

4,000
Master's degree recipents per one million of
the population

Bachelor's degree recipents per one million of
the population

6,000(B) New master's degree recipients
Fieldclassification
unknown
Others

3,500
3,000
2,500
2,000

Natural scienceand engineering

1,500
1,000

Social sciences
and humanities

500
0
08 13 08 14 08 13 08 13 08 13 08 16 08 13
Japan

U.S. Germany France

U.K.

Korea

China

FY

• Among master's degree resipients, thenumber of those in "humanities and social
sciences" is largest in the selected countries
other than Japan.
• In comparison with 2008, the number inJapan has remained flat, while those of theother countries have increased.

(C) New doctoral degree recipients
400
Doctoral degree recipents per one million of
the population(A) New bachelor's degree recipients
7,000

Field
classification
unknown
Others

350
300
250
200

Natural scienceand engineering

150
100

Social sciences
and humanities

50
0
08 13 08 13 08 13 08 13 08 13 08 16 08 13
Japan

U.S. Germany France

U.K.

Korea

FY

China

• The number of doctoral degree resipients in"natural sciences" is highest in all theselected countries.
• In comparison with 2008, the number inJapan has lowered, while those of the othercountries have increased.

(Note)(1) The numbers of doctoral degree resipients in the United States are the figures calculated by subtracting the figures for "law and economics," "medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and health care," and "other"among the figures for first-professional degrees (such as the bachelor of medicine and the bachelor of law) from the figures for the "doctor's degrees" noted in the "Digest of Education Statistics."(2) With regard to China, the figures for individual fields are not known.
(3) Each field classification includes the following.
Humanities and social sciences: humanities, art, law, economics, etc.; Natural sciences: science, engineering, agriculture, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and health care; and Others: education, teacher
training, domestic economy, etc.

(Source) Science and Technology Indicators 2017, NISTEP Research Material-261, released on August 9, 201712

4. Circumstances
CircumstancesininJapan
JapanandandSelected
SelectedCountries
Countriesin Terms of R&D
Science and Technology Indicators 2017
in Terms of R&D Output
Output• Compared with ten years ago, the number of Japanese papers has slightly declined(counted by the fractional counting method). With other countries expanding theirshares, the position of Japan in the world rankings has moved down. The decline ofJapan's ranking is remarkable in relation to highly cited papers (the number ofadjusted top 10% papers and adjusted top 1% papers).
[Top 10 countries/regions in terms of the number of papers and the number of hot papers (top 10% and top 1%)(based on the fractional counting method)]
All fields
Country/Region

PY (PublicationYear)
2003–2005

U.S.
Japan
Germany
China
U.K.
FranceItaly
CanadaSpain
India
All fields
Country/Region

PY (PublicationYear)
2013–2015

U.S.
China
Germany
Japan
U.K.
India
Francekorea
Italy
Canada2003－ 2005 (PY) (Average)
The number of papers
Fractional counting
Papers
Share
World rank
221,36726.1
1
67,8888.0
252,3156.2
351,930
6.1
450,8626.0
537,392
4.4
630,3583.6
727,8473.3
821,5272.5
920,3192.4
102003－ 2005 (PY) (Average)
The number of adjusted top 10% papers
Fractional counting
Country/Region
Papers
Share
World rank
U.S.
33,242
39.4
1
U.K.
6,288
7.5
2
Germany
5,458
6.5
3
Japan
4,601
5.5
4
France
3,696
4.4
5
China
3,599
4.3
6
Canada
3,155
3.7
7
Italy
2,588
3.1
8
Netherlands
2,056
2.4
9
Australia
1,903
2.3
10

2013 － 2015 (PY) (Average)
The number of papers
Fractional counting
Papers
Share
World rank
272,23319.9
1219,60816.0
264,7474.7
364,013
4.7
459,0974.3
549,9763.7
645,3153.3
744,8223.3
843,8043.2
939,4732.9
102013 － 2015 (PY) (Average)
The number of adjusted top 10% papers
Fractional counting
Country/Region
Papers
Share
World rank
U.S.
39,01128.5
1
China
21,016
15.4
2
U.K.
8,426
6.2
3
Germany
7,857
5.7
4France
4,941
3.6
5
Italy
4,739
3.5
6
Canada4,442
3.2
7Australia
4,249
3.1
8
Japan
4,242
3.1
9
Spain
3,634
2.7
10

All fields

All fields

All fields
Country/Region

U.S.
U.K.
Germany
Japan
FranceCanadaChina
Netherlands
Italy
Switzerland
All fields
Country/Region

U.S.
China
U.K.
Germany
FranceAustralia
Canada
Italy
Japan
Spain

2003－ 2005 (PY) (Average)
The number of adjusted top 1% papers
Fractional counting
Papers
Share
World rank
3,983
47.2
1
673
8.0
2
503
6.0
3
365
4.3
4
311
3.7
5
295
3.5
6
283
3.4
7
211
2.5
8
200
2.4
9
178
2.1
10
2013 － 2015 (PY) (Average)
The number of adjusted top 1% papers
Fractional counting
Papers
Share
World rank
4,700
34.3
1
1,954
14.3
2
961
7.0
3
763
5.6
4
476
3.5
5
433
3.2
6
419
3.1
7
384
2.8
8
335
2.4
9
299
2.2
10

[Methods of counting papers](Fractional counting method) In the case where one paper is co-authored by Japanese Organization A and US Organization B, this method counts Japan as 1/2 and the U.S. as 1/2. This indicates thedegree of contribution to the production of papers.
(Whole counting method) In the case where one paper is co-authored by Japanese Organization A and US Organization B, this method counts Japan as 1 and the U.S. as 1. This indicates the degree ofparticipation in the production of papers.
For counting, both the methods are based on the countries of the organizations with which the authors are affiliated.

(Source) Science and Technology Indicators 2017, NISTEP Research Material-261, released on August 9, 201713

4. Circumstances
in Japanand Selected
Countries in
4.
Circumstances in Japanand Selected
Countries
Science and Technology Indicators 2017
in Termsof R&D
OutputTermsof R&D
Output• With regard to scientific field shares in the number of Japanese papers, theshares of "basic life sciences," "chemistry," and "physics" were large in thefirst half of the 1980s. Over time, "basic life sciences" and "chemistry" havelowered, while "clinical medicine" has risen.
[Changes in scientific field shares in the worldwide number of papers and the selected countries'
numbers of papers (fractional counting)](A) Worldwide(B) Japan
100%

100%

Materials
sciencePhysics
Computerscience/Mathematics
Engineering
Environment/
Geoscience

80%
70%
60%
50%

Clinicalmedicine

40%
30%
20%

Basic life
sciences

10%90%Chemistry

90%

80%

Materials
science80%70%

Physics

Computerscience/Mathematics

60%
Engineering
50%

Scientific field shares in the number of papers for U.S.

90%

100%
Chemistry

Chemistry

Scientific field shares in the number of papers for Japan

Scientific field shares in the international number of papers(C) U.S.

Environment/
Geoscience
Clinicalmedicine

40%
30%
20%

Basic life
sciences

10%

1981

85

89

93

97

01

05

09

13 2015(PY)70%

Environment/
Geoscience

60%
50%

Clinicalmedicine

40%
30%
20%

Basic life
sciences

10%
0%

0%

0%

Materials
sciencePhysics
Computerscience/Mathematics
Engineering

1981

85

89

93

97

01

05

09

13

2015(PY)

1981

85

89

93

97

01

05

09

13 2015(PY)• In comparison between life sciences ("clinical medicine" and"basic life sciences") and other fields in Japan, the share oflife sciences has increased by nearly 10 points in Japan.

(Source) Science and Technology Indicators 2017, NISTEP Research Material-261, released on August 9, 201714

4. Circumstances
in Japanand Selected
Countries in Terms
4.
Circumstances in Japanand Selected
Countries
Science and Technology Indicators 2017
Terms
of R&D
Output
Terms
of in
R&D
ofOutput
R&D
Output• Japan has maintained its position as highest in the world in terms of the number ofpatent families for the last ten years. In relation to technological fields, Japan's sharesof "electrical engineering" and "general machinery" are high, compared with thecorresponding worldwide shares.
[Changes in technological field shares in thenumber of patent families](B) Japan(A) Worldwide[The number of patent families by selected
country/region](Top 10 countries/regions)2010-2012

80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%

Electricalengineering

ICT
Generalmachinery
Bio/medical
devices
Chemistry
Biotechnology/pharmac
euticals

20%

Mechanicalengineering

10%

Transport
equipment0%90%Technological field shares in the number of patent families for Japan

2000-2002

Technological field shares in the number of patent families

2010 - 2012(Average) Whole counting
ShareWorld rank
Country/Region Patent Families
Japan
64,27329.8
1
U.S.
48,847
22.6
2
Germany
30,097
13.9
3
Korea
20,0949.3
4
China
16,144
7.5
5
Taiwan11,932
5.5
6France11,393
5.3
7
U.K.
8,647
4.0
8
Canada
5,990
2.8
9
Italy
5,557
2.6
10

90%

Japan remains
in first place2000 - 2002(Average) Whole counting
ShareWorld rank
Country/Region Patent Families
Japan
46,33230.2
1U.S.
43,501
28.3
2
Germany
26,93317.5
3France
9,153
6.0
4
U.K.
8,633
5.6
5
Korea
7,326
4.8
6
Italy
4,592
3.0
7
Canada4,376
2.9
8Netherlands
4,283
2.8
9
Switzerland
3,521
2.3
10

100%

100%

Other
198183 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 05 07 09 11• The shares of "electrical engineering"and "general machinery" are high,compared with the corresponding
worldwide shares.

2012
year

Electricalengineering

80%
70%

ICT

60%
50%
40%

Generalmachinery
Bio/medical
devices

Chemistry
30%
20%
10%
0%

Biotechnology/pharmac
euticals
Mechanicalengineering
Transport
equipment
Other
198183 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 05 07 09 11 2012year

• The shares of "biotechnology/pharmaceuticals"and "bio/medical devices" are low, comparedwith the corresponding worldwide shares.

(Note) A patent family is a group of patents filed in two or more countries, directly or indirectly related to each other by priority rights. In many cases, the same patents filed in multiple countries
belong to the same patent family.
15(Source) Science and Technology Indicators 2017, NISTEP Research Material-261, released on August 9, 2017

4. Circumstances
in Japanand Selected
Countries in Terms
4.
Circumstances in Japanand Selected
Countries
Scienceand Technology
Indicators2017
2017
Scienceand Technology
Indicators
Terms
of R&D
Output
Terms
of in
R&D
ofOutput
R&D
Output• With regard to the linkage between science and technology (science linkage),although the number of Japanese patent families citing papers is the world's
second largest, these patent families account for only a small proportion of
the total patent families of Japan.
• A large number of Japanese papers are cited by patent families around theworld.
New [The number of patent families citing papers:

New[The number of papers cited by patent families:
top 10 countries/regions]

top 10 countries/regions]
2005–2012 (Total)
Whole counting

No.

Country /Region(A) Patent families citing papers
No. of patentfamilies

Global share of(A)

1981–2012 (Total)(B) Total number of patent families
No. of patentfamilies

Percentage ofpatent families
citing papers(A) / (B)

Whole counting

No.

(A) Papers cited by patent families

Country /RegionNo. ofpapersGlobal share of(A)(B) Total number of papers
No. ofpapersPercentage of
papers cited bypatent families(A) / (B)

1 U.S.

100,72027.1

383,812

26.2

1 U.S.

354,69936.2

7,079,917

5.0

2 Japan

46,79012.6

494,925

9.5

2 Japan

78,1878.0

1,821,236

4.3

3 Germany

41,606

11.2

242,606

17.1

3 Germany

69,7477.1

1,826,813

3.8

4 France

22,506

6.0

89,10625.3

4 U.K.

69,1297.1

1,824,576

3.8

5 U.K.

19,453

5.2

69,30428.1

5 France

46,1774.7

1,333,730

3.5

6 China

17,026

4.6

96,432

17.7

6 Canada

36,6873.7

1,006,284

3.6

7 Korea

12,571

3.4

151,249

8.3

7 China

30,7663.1

1,353,245

2.3

8 Canada

11,9183.2

45,74826.1

8 Italy

30,3303.1

898,805

3.4

9 Netherlands

10,6592.936,434

29.3

9 Netherlands

23,3882.4

531,922

4.4

10 India

8,922

2.4

26,194

34.1

10 Switzerland

20,5992.1

401,594

5.1• The number of patent families citing papers → Second in the world• The number of papers cited by patent families → Second in theworld• Of the total patent families of Japan, the number of patent families
citing papers accounts for a small proportion.
(Source) Science and Technology Indicators 2017, NISTEP Research Material-261, released on August 9, 201716

4. Circumstances
in Japanand Selected
Countries in Terms
4.
Circumstances in Japanand Selected
Countries
Scienceand Technology
Indicators2017
2017
Scienceand Technology
Indicators
Terms
of R&D
Output
Terms
of in
R&D
ofOutput
R&D
Output• In

the technological fields of "electrical engineering" and "generalmachinery," which account for a large part of the composition oftechnological fields in Japan compared with the worldwide levels of thesefields, Japan's share of patent families citing papers tends to be low, incomparison with the corresponding shares of the United States andEuropean countries.
New[Technological field shares in the selected countries' numbers of patent families citing papers](Relative value to "biotechnology/pharmaceuticals" in each country)

Technical field
Biotechnology/pharmaceuticals
Chemistry
Bio/medical devices
ICT
General machinery
Electrical engineering
Mechanical engineering
Other
Transport equipment• "Biotechnology/pharmaceuticals" is high for
all the selected countries.

Japan
1
0.48
0.37
0.22
0.18
0.16
0.09
0.08
0.07

U.S.

Germany France
1
1
1
0.58
0.50
0.59
0.43
0.38
0.41
0.36
0.41
0.41
0.40
0.32
0.41
0.29
0.22
0.31
0.15
0.09
0.11
0.12
0.05
0.06
0.08
0.06
0.07

U.K.
1
0.60
0.41
0.36
0.43
0.32
0.13
0.09
0.08

China

Korea

1
0.61
0.38
0.27
0.19
0.18
0.12
0.06
0.08

1
0.45
0.33
0.18
0.13
0.12
0.08
0.05
0.04

• Japan tends to be low in these
two fields, compared with Westerncountries.

• "Mechanical engineering" and "transport
equipment" are low for all the selected
countries.
(Source) Science and Technology Indicators 2017, NISTEP Research Material-261, released on August 9, 201717

4. Circumstances
in Japanand Selected
Countries in Terms
4.
Circumstances in Japanand Selected
Countries
Scienceand Technology
Indicators2017
2017
Scienceand Technology
Indicators
Terms
of R&D
Output
Terms
of in
R&D
ofOutput
R&D
Output• The linkage between scientific fields and technological fields in the worldshows that a large number of papers cited by patent families fall within thescientific fields of "basic life sciences," "clinical medicine," and "chemistry."
New[Linkage between scientific fields and technological fields in the world]• A large number of papers cited by patentfamilies fall within the scientific fields of"basic life sciences," "clinical medicine," and"chemistry."(Source) Science and Technology Indicators 2017, NISTEP Research Material-261, released on August 9, 201718

4. Circumstances
in Japanand Selected
Countries in
4.
Circumstances in Japanand Selected
Countries
Science and Technology Indicators 2017
in Termsof R&D
OutputTermsof R&D
Output• With regard to which countries' patent families cite Japanese papers in eachscientific field, a large number of papers in "physics" and "materials
science" are cited by Japan's own patent families. On the other hand,
Japan's papers in "clinical medicine" and "basic life sciences" account for a
relatively small proportion of papers cited by Japan's own patent families;
such papers are instead cited by countries other than Japan.
New[Countries whose patent families cite Japanese papers]

Japan

U.S.

Chemistry

23.9

FranceU.K.

38.4

Material science

Scientific field

Germany

38.5

31.4
15.8

54.9

Clinical medicine

17.3

49.7

Basic life sciences

17.3
0%

10%

• A large number of Japanese papers in"clinical medicine" and "basic life sciences"are cited for the use of other countries'
technologies.

10.2
39.7

Environment/Geoscience

30%

40%

50%

7.5

3.2

4.4

5.4

4.2

7.0

3.9 3.6

6.1

3.6

6.0

7.0

8.3

3.7

60%

4.8

7.7

6.1

4.7

5.9

4.5

8.8

4.0

6.0

5.4

5.1

10.9

46.4
20%

7.9

8.4
29.0

26.4

Engineering

7.0

30.6

46.9

Computer science/Mathematics

Korea

12.1

42.2

Physics

China

6.3

12.1

7.6

70%

80%

7.8

6.0 2.0

8.5

5.8 2.2

90%

100%• A large number of Japanese papers in"physics" and "materials science" are cited forthe use of Japan's own technologies.

(Source) Science and Technology Indicators 2017, NISTEP Research Material-261, released on August 9, 201719

Circumstances
ininJapan
andCountriesin
5. CircumstancesJapan
andSelected
theselected
countries
in terms of science,5.
Circumstances in Japanand Selected
Countries
Scienceand Technology
Indicators2017
2017
ScienceandTechnology
Indicators
in Termsof Science,
Technology, andtechnology,
an innovation
Termsof Science,
Technology,
andInnovation
Innovation• Japan's trade balance ratio for high‐technology industries is the lowest

among the selected countries. However, in medium high‐technology
industries, Japan maintains its position as the highest among the selected
countries.
[Changes in the trade balance ratios for
medium high‐technology industries in theselected countries]
6

Japan
U.S.

3

Germany
France
2

U.K.
China
Korea

1

The trade balance of
medium-high technology industry

The trade balance of high technology industry

4[Changes in the trade balance ratios forhigh‐technology industries in the selected
countries]
5

Japan
U.S.

4

Germany
France

3

U.K.
China

2

Korea

1
0

0
1990 92 94 96 98 00 02 04 06 08 10 12 14 2015Year

1990 92 94 96 98 00 02 04 06 08 10 12 14 2015Year• Japan has hit below 1 and has run import surpluses
since 2011. The trade balance ratio of Japan in2015 was 0.75.

• Japan's trade balance ratio drastically dropped
during the middle of the 1990s, and has since kept
declining gradually, reaching 2.64 in 2015.

(Note)(1) High-technology industries refer to "pharmaceutical," "computer, electronic and optical," and "aerospace."(2) Note: Medium high-technology industries refer to "chemicals and chemical products," "electrical equipment," "machinery and equipment n.e.c.," "motor vehicles, trailers and semitrailers," "railroad equipment and transport equipment n.e.c.," and "other."(3) Trade balance ratio = export value / import value(Source) Science and Technology Indicators 2017, NISTEP Research Material-261, released on August 9, 201720

Circumstances
ininJapan
andCountriesin
5. CircumstancesJapan
andSelected
theselected
countries
in terms of science,5.
Circumstances in Japanand Selected
Countries
Scienceand Technology
Indicators2017
2017
ScienceandTechnology
Indicators
in Termsof Science,
Technology, andtechnology,
an innovation
Termsof Science,
Technology,
andInnovation
Innovation• In Japan, the business startup rate is higher than its business discontinuance rate.

However, both of these rates remain at low levels, compared with those rates of theother selected countries, and have not changed much over time.
New[Changes in the business startup rates and business discontinuance rates of the selected countries](A) Business startup rate

%

%

20

Japan

16
12
10
8

2

14.3

U.S.

12.4

Germany

11.7
10.4

Japan

8.6

5.2
4.4

12
10

France

7.3

16

U.S.

14

9.3

9.1

6
4

20
18

18
14

(B) Business discontinuance rate

8
6

U.K.

4
2

Germany

10.2
9.8

9.2

9.4

10.0

France

7.6

7.0

5.4
3.8

4.4

U.K.

0

0
2001

03

05

07

09

11

13 2015Year

2001

03

05

07

09

11

13 2015Year(Note) It is necessary to pay attention to international comparisons in this regard since the method of calculating a business startup rate and a business discontinuance rate differs from country to country.
<Japan> The business startup and discontinuance rates are calculated on the basis of the formation and extinguishing of business establishments in respect of which necessary insurance relations
have been established (applicable places of business). Specifically, the business startup rate is calculated by dividing the number of business establishments that newly establish
employment relationships during the year concerned by the number of applicable places of business at the end of the previous year. The business discontinuance rate is calculated by
dividing the number of business establishments whose employment relationships extinguish during the year concerned by the number of applicable places of business at the end of theprevious year. Applicable places of business mean the number of business establishments that have established labor insurance relations pertaining to employment insurance.
<U.S.>The business startup and discontinuance rates are calculated on the basis of the generation and extinguishing of employers.
<U.K.>The business startup and discontinuance rates are calculated on the basis of the number of business enterprises registered for VAT (value-added tax) and PAYE (withholding income tax).
<Germany>The business startup and discontinuance rates are calculated on the basis of the number of business enterprises that have submitted the notifications of business
commencement/discontinuance.
<France>The business startup rate is calculated on the basis of the number of business startup cases registered with/deleted from the SIRENRE database (the list of business enterprises andoffices).

(Source) Science and Technology Indicators 2017, NISTEP Research Material-261, released on August 9, 201721

Circumstances
ininJapan
andCountriesin
5. CircumstancesJapan
andSelected
theselected
countries
in terms of science,5.
Circumstances in Japanand Selected
Countries
Scienceand Technology
Indicators2017
2017
ScienceandTechnology
Indicators
in Termsof Science,
Technology, andtechnology,
an innovation
Termsof Science,
Technology,
andInnovation
Innovation• Regarding to changes in the selected countries' percentages of people without

entrepreneurial motivation, Japan's percentage in the most recent year is 77.3%, thehighest level among the countries concerned. The difference between Japan and theother selected countries in this regard is as big as approximately 40 points.
• The business survival rate in Japan is relatively high, compared with the otherselected countries. Even after five years, 81.7% of business enterprises in Japan
continue their businesses.
New

New

[Changes in the percentages of people without
entrepreneurial motivation in the selected countries]
%

Japan

90
80
70

Germany
75.4

France

60
50

20

81.7

42.9

39.2

38.6

36.0
30.6

30.6

22.9

Germany
48.9

40
40.2

0
03

04

05

06

07

08

09

10

11 2012 Year

44.5
42.3

FranceU.K.

20Time offoundation

2001 02

U.S.

60

0

10

Japan

80

U.K.

40
30

100

U.S.

77.3

75.8

[Changes in the post-startup business survival
rates in the selected countries]%

1st year

2nd year

3rd year

4th year

5th year(No. of years
elapsed after
foundation)(Note) (1) Using research results produced by Global Entrepreneurship Monitor ("GEM"), the percentage of "people without entrepreneurial motivation" is a percentage calculated by counting
people to whom none of the three indicators, "the indicator of entrepreneurial activity penetration," "the indicator of business opportunity perception" and "the indicator of knowledge,
ability and experience," applies.
(2) The business survival rate in Japan is calculated only on the basis of business enterprises whose company information is recorded on the database "COSMOS2 (corporate profile
database)" of Teikoku Databank, Ltd. In addition, since it takes a certain period of time until information is recorded on the database, the calculated rate may be higher than the actual
survival rate.
(3) The business survival rate in each of the U.S., the U.K., Germany, and France is acquired from its average of the number of business enterprises that newly started business during
the period from 2007 to 2013.
22(Source) Science and Technology Indicators 2017, NISTEP Research Material-261, released on August 9, 2017

Summary• The R&D expenditure and the number of researchers in Japan is the third largest
in major countries (Japan, the United States, Germany, France, the United
Kingdom, China and Korea), but the number of new doctoral degree recipients
per 1 million population is the sixth place in the major countries.
• With regard to R&D funds in Japan, direct government funding to businessenterprises is lowest among the other countries, and is concentrated on largescale business enterprises.
• Among graduates of doctoral programs in "science and engineering" in Japan, thepercentage of those who are employed for "indefinite terms" is approximately
50%. In contrast, the same percentage for graduates of doctoral programs in“Social sciences and humanities" is approximately 30%.
• The number of scientific publications in Japan (fraction counting method) is the
fourth in the world and the number of scientific publications with high citations is
the ninth, the ranking of Japan in the latter has been declining in quicker pace. On
the other hand, Japan continues to be the world first place in the patent family(patent applications to more than two countries).

23

Summary• A large number of Japanese papers are cited by patent families (technologies)
around the world. In comparison with other countries, the proportion of Japan's
technologies citing papers (scientific outputs) is low. In particular, it is possiblethat the scientific outputs of "clinical medicine" and "basic life sciences" are notutilized for Japanese technologies.
• Japan's high technology industry trade balance ratio has been declining since the1990s. After 2011, it experiences a foreign trade deficit and it is the sixth positionin the major countries. Meanwhile, the medium high technology industry tradebalance ratio is at an exports surplus, keeping the first place among the majorcountries.
• The business startup rate and business discontinuance rate in Japan remain low,compared with those of the United States and European countries. However,once businesses are established, such businesses tend to continue for a longterm.

24