Science and research are essential for achieving economic growth, driving productivity, and improving national prosperity. In addition to creating new knowledge, research activity drives skill development.
Total business expenditure on R&D (BERD)
This chart shows total spend by businesses on research and development activities. Business expenditure on R&D (BERD) has been increasing since 2015-16, peaking at $20.6 billion in 2021-22 (ABS 2021-22).
Figure 1: Business expenditure on R&D (BERD), $ billion, latest 2021–22
If you are having trouble accessing the graph a separate download of the graph data follows.
Business expenditure on R&D (BERD) by industry
This chart shows BERD for the four industries with the largest BERD. The two industries with the highest BERD in 2021-22 were Professional, Scientific and Technical Services, and Manufacturing (ABS 2021-22).
Figure 2: Business expenditure on R&D (BERD), top 4 industries, $ billion, latest 2021–22
If you are having trouble accessing the graph a separate download of the graph data follows.
Business expenditure on R&D (BERD) as a share of GDP
This chart shows BERD as a percentage of GDP over time. Australia’s BERD has declined as a percentage of GDP over the last 13 years, reaching 0.88% of GDP in 2021-22 (ABS 2021-22).
Figure 3: Business expenditure on R&D (BERD), share of GDP, %, latest 2021–22
If you are having trouble accessing the graph a separate download of the graph data follows.
Government expenditure on R&D (GOVERD) by type of activity
This chart shows government expenditure on R&D, as state or territory expenditure and Australian Government expenditure by type of activity. In 2020-21, government expenditure was highest in applied research, followed by strategic basic research (ABS 2020-21).
Figure 4: Government expenditure on R&D (GOVERD), by type of activity, $ million, latest 2020–21
If you are having trouble accessing the graph a separate download of the graph data follows.
Gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) as a share of GDP
This chart shows aggregate expenditure on R&D across all sectors of the economy – business, government, higher education and non-profit – among OECD countries. Australia ranked 22nd for gross expenditure on R&D as a share of GDP, below the OECD average (OECD 2023).
Figure 5: Gross expenditure on R&D (GERD), share of GDP, OECD countries, per cent, latest 2021-22
If you are having trouble accessing the graph a separate download of the graph data follows.
References
- Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021-22). Research and Experimental Development, Businesses, Australia. ABS.
- Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2020-21). Research and Experimental Development, Government and Private Non-Profit Organisations, Australia. ABS.
- OECD Main Science and Technology Indicators (2023).