Research and Development

Explore data and trends within U.S. research and development (R&D). Areas of exploration include R&D expenditures among various sectors (businesses, academic institutions, government, nonprofits, and research facilities), performers of R&D, sources of funds for R&D, type of R&D (basic research, applied research, and experimental development), and geographic location of R&D.

ncses_usranddinvestments_onepager

U.S. R&D Investments

View and Download

Research and Development Topics

Research & Development (R&D) Activity

Business R&D

Higher Education R&D

Federal Government/Agency R&D

Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDC) R&D

State Government/Agency R&D

Type of R&D (basic, applied, experimental development)

R&D Intensity

R&D Employment

R&D Publications & Articles

Clinical Trials and Medical Projects

R&D Funding Received & Spent

R&D Funding Source

Business R&D

Higher Education R&D

Nonprofit R&D

Federal Government/Agency R&D

Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDC) R&D

State Government/Agency R&D

R&D Capital Expenditures

R&D Cost Type

R&D Funding Agreement (contract, grant, reimbursement, etc.)

Innovation & Production

Production and Value Added

Knowledge and Technology Intensive (KTI) Industries

Product & Business Process Innovation

Patenting and Trademark Activities

Technology Transfer Activities

R&D Facilities

Amount of Research Space

New Construction

Repairs and Renovations

State Government R&D-related Facilities

R&D Funding by Government

Federal Government/Agency R&D

State Government/Agency R&D

R&D Funding by Government

Current Topics

COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts

Colleges and Universities

Institutions

Minorities in Higher Education

Location

By State or Region

By Country

New Data on Federal Funding for R&D to Individual U.S. Territories Available for the First Time for FY 2023.

Analysis

New Data on Federal Funding for R&D to Individual U.S. Territories Available for the First Time for FY 2023

May 6, 2025

Long-Term Trends Show Decline in Federally Funded R&D as a Share of GDP while Business-Funded R&D Share Increases.

Analysis

Long-Term Trends Show Decline in Federally Funded R&D as a Share of GDP while Business-Funded R&D Share Increases

April 24, 2025

Annual Business Survey: 2023 (Data Year 2022).

Data

Annual Business Survey: 2023 (Data Year 2022)

April 24, 2025

Data Highlights

FY 2023 was the 10th consecutive year of nominal growth for R&D expenditures at federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs)

Figure 1. FY 2023 was the 10th consecutive year of nominal growth for R&D expenditures at federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs))

R&D expenditures rose an average of 2.6% annually in constant dollars from FY 2013 to FY 2023

$20.9B

Department of Defense facilities performed $20.9 billion of the total $34.5 billion in R&D expended by federal government facilities in FY 2022

77%

Percentage of microbusiness R&D performance paid for by the companies' own funds in 2022

Adjusted to constant 2017 dollars, total U.S. R&D expenditures are estimated to increase by $13 billion from 2022 to 2023

Figure 2. Adjusted to constant 2017 dollars, total U.S. R&D expenditures are estimated to increase by $13 billion from 2022 to 2023

The business sector accounts for most of this increase