Human resources and investment in research
and development (R&D) have increased in
most countries of Asia and the Pacific during
the last decade, with large increases in a few
countries (China, Malaysia and Pakistan).
Meanwhile, women continue to be grossly
underrepresented among researchers.
R&D is key in ensuring long-term development
via building knowledge-based societies. In turn,
knowledge-based societies rely on appropriate
funding and qualified R&D professionals to
sustain development.
Spending
Spending on R&D can give countries a
competitive advantage and support transition to
a knowledge-based economy. Counting only
countries with available data, world expenditure
on R&D increased from PPP$790.3 billion to
PPP$1,145.7 billion, over the last decade;
developed countries accounted for almost two
thirds of the increase.1, 2 The total for Asia
increased from PPP$213.9 to PPP$369.3 billion
during the same period, bringing its global
share from 27% to 32%.2 China alone increased
its R&D investment from PPP$39.2 to
PPP$102.4 billion in that period.2 Japan,
however, topped the list at PPP$147.9 billion in
2007. After Japan and China, the leading R&D
investors in Asia were the Republic of Korea
(PPP$41.3 billion), India (PPP$24.8 billion) and
the Russian Federation (PPP$23.5 billion).2 Total
spending of the Asian top five accounted for 92%
of total reported R&D investment in Asia and
the Pacific.
R&D intensity, defined as R&D spending as
a percent of GDP, measures the relative
importance of R&D in the national economy. As
an indicator of competitiveness of a country’s
economy, many countries have set a target of investing 1% of their GDP in R&D. Some
developed countries set their target at 3%.
Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, the
Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation and
Singapore have spent more than 1% of their
respective GDP on R&D, according to published
data. Japan and the Republic of Korea topped the
list based on the proportion of GDP spent on
R&D at 3.4% of GDP in 2007. After Japan and
the Republic of Korea, the leading R&D
investors were Singapore (2.6%) and Australia
(2.4%). China increased its R&D investment
from 0.6% to 1.5% of GDP from 1996 to 2008.
In Asia and the Pacific only 4 countries with
available data decreased their spending on R&D
as a percent of GDP in the last decade.
In terms of per capita spending on R&D,
Singapore has the highest per capita expenditure
at PPP$1,422, followed by Japan (PPP$1,167),
the Republic of Korea (PPP$912), and Australia
($890). Although China is one of the top
spenders on R&D in total PPP dollars, in terms
of per capita it spends less than some other Asian
and Pacific countries with PPP$90 per capita in
2008. Most countries in Asia spent less than $50
per capita on R&D investment.
In the last 10 years, R&D per capita expenditure
has increased in all countries for which data are
available. China and Azerbaijan, whose respective
investments have increased by more than 600%
from 1996 to 2008 and 2009, respectively,
demonstrate the largest increases in per capita
spending.
Researchers
The number of R&D researchers indicates R&D
potential in a country. Strong economic growth
in Asia and the Pacific has fostered the rapid
expansion of research during the past decade.
However, the relatively low proportion of researchers in the region, just 746 per million
inhabitants in 2007, is well below the world
average of 1,081 researchers per million
inhabitants.2 The Americas (North America and
Latin America and the Caribbean, combined)
and Europe have 2,010 and 2,639 researchers per
million inhabitants, respectively.2 Based on the
latest available data, the Asian and Pacific
countries with more than 1,000 researchers per
million inhabitants are Australia; China; Hong
Kong, China; Japan; New Zealand; Republic of
Korea; the Russian Federation; and Singapore.
The disparity among countries is great: Japan had
over 5,000 researchers per million (2008)
inhabitants while the Philippines had only 78
(2007). The most significant increase in the
number of researchers per million inhabitants was
in Singapore, from 2,535 in 1996 to 6,033 in
2008. Large increases also occurred in the
Republic of Korea and New Zealand, where
numbers rose from 2,209 to 4,904 and from
2,194 to 4,365, respectively.
Figure I.42 – Gross domestic expenditure on
research and development, Asia and the Pacific,
PPP$ per capita
Gender equality in research and development3
Talented women need opportunities and a conducive environment to participate in R&D activities – essential
components of national development. However, considering both full- and part-time employees in R&D, women
are often un- or underrepresented. Asia and the Pacific ranks last among the world’s regions with respect to female
participation in R&D. Women composed only 18% of the Asian R&D work force in 2007, while the African
proportion was 33%, the Latin American and Caribbean 45% and European 34%. There is insufficient data in
many countries to obtain a complete picture of female participation in Asia and especially the Pacific.
The gender imbalance varies greatly among Asian and Pacific countries. Among the 18 countries for which recent
(between 2005 and 2009) data are available, 10 recorded a proportion of female researchers below 40%. In Japan
and the Republic of Korea, few researchers were women (Japan, 13% in 2008, and the Republic of Korea, 16% in
2008). According to recent data, women outnumber men in research in only 3 countries: Azerbaijan, the Philippines
and Thailand. Based on 1997 data, Myanmar has the highest proportion of women researchers in the region with
86% of researchers being women.
The following figure shows the participation of women at different stages of education and in research. No significant
gender gap exists from pre-primary to master’s degree level. Women account for more than half of all master’s degree
students. However, women are underrepresented in doctoral studies, limiting their opportunities for a research career.
Gender imbalance by educational level
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics, Data Centre. Available from www.uis.unesco.org (accessed April 2011). |
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Research and development
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