Introduction
Behind every new technology, climate solution, or medical breakthrough, there’s a public decision to fund research. Government R&D budgets reveal those priorities — showing which countries invest most in science, technology, and the future.
This overview uses OECD’s GBARD data to explore how public research funding is distributed across key areas such as health, energy, defence, education, and industry — and how those priorities have shifted over time.
Overall Government R&D Budget Allocations
Government R&D budget allocations vary significantly across OECD countries, reflecting differences in economic size, strategic priorities, and innovation policies. Visualised below are how total GBARD has evolved across major OECD economies, highlighting both long-term trends and recent shifts in government R&D investment patterns.
Health
Health-related R&D remains a critical priority for many OECD governments, supporting biomedical research, disease prevention, and healthcare system improvements. The following chart illustrates government R&D budget allocations for health across OECD countries.
Energy
Energy R&D allocations reflect government priorities in addressing climate change, developing clean technologies, and ensuring energy security. Shown below are government R&D budget allocations for energy across OECD countries.
Defence
Defence R&D allocations vary considerably across OECD countries, reflecting different national security priorities and defence strategies. The following chart illustrates government R&D budget allocations for defence across OECD countries.
Education
Education R&D supports research on learning methodologies, educational technologies, and educational policy effectiveness. Visualised below are government R&D budget allocations for education across OECD countries.
Industrial Production and Technology
Industrial and technology R&D allocations support innovation in manufacturing, advanced technologies, and industrial competitiveness. Shown below are government R&D budget allocations for industrial production and technology across OECD countries.
Environment
Environmental R&D supports research on pollution control, biodiversity conservation, and climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies. The following chart illustrates government R&D budget allocations for environment across OECD countries.
Frequently Asked Questions
GBARD represents the funds that governments commit to research and development activities, as allocated in their budgets. Unlike actual R&D expenditure, GBARD reflects budgeted amounts that governments plan to spend on R&D, classified by socio-economic objectives such as health, energy, defence, education, and industrial technology. GBARD data help track government priorities and strategic investments in innovation over time.
Government R&D budgets signal national priorities and strategic investments in innovation. By funding basic research, applied science, and technology development, governments create the foundation for private-sector innovation, economic competitiveness, and long-term growth. Countries that allocate substantial resources to R&D in key areas such as health, energy, and technology tend to build stronger innovation ecosystems, attract high-tech industries, and maintain competitive advantages in global markets. GBARD data help policymakers and analysts understand how different nations balance their research investments across priorities, revealing patterns that correlate with innovation outcomes and economic performance.
As of the latest available data, government R&D budget allocations vary significantly across OECD countries:
- United States: 203,919 million US dollars (PPP)
- Japan: 88,492 million US dollars (PPP)
- Germany: 62,994.2 million US dollars (PPP)
- France: 27,216.8 million US dollars (PPP)
- United Kingdom: 24,929.2 million US dollars (PPP)
- Korea: 37,515.8 million US dollars (PPP)
These differences reflect varying economic sizes, national priorities, and strategic approaches to innovation policy.
GBARD (Government Budget Allocations for R&D) measures planned government spending on R&D as reflected in budgets, while BERD (Business Expenditure on R&D) measures actual R&D spending by businesses. GBARD is forward-looking and policy-oriented, showing government intentions and priorities, whereas BERD reflects real expenditure by the private sector. Together, GBARD and BERD provide complementary views of a country's R&D landscape: GBARD shows what governments plan to fund, while BERD shows what businesses actually invest in innovation.
OECD compiles GBARD data annually based on budget information provided by member countries. The data are typically updated within several months of the reference period, once national statistical offices and government agencies publish their final budget figures. The OECD's GBARD database covers historical data going back to 1981 for many countries, allowing for long-term trend analysis and cross-country comparisons of government R&D investment patterns.
Government R&D Budget Allocations in Countries
Compare government R&D budget allocations across OECD countries to explore regional trends and national priorities.
Methodology and Data Sources
All charts and indicators update automatically based on OECD's Government Budget Allocations for R&D (GBARD) statistics, compiled according to the NABS 2007 classification system. The data are expressed in US dollars adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) at current prices, ensuring meaningful cross-country comparisons. GBARD reflects budgeted amounts that governments commit to R&D activities, classified by socio-economic objectives such as health, energy, defence, education, environment, and industrial technology. The data cover annual allocations from 1981 to the present, updated in real time as OECD member countries publish their budget figures, typically within several months of the reference period. The OECD updates this database annually as member countries publish their final budget figures.