In 2024, Germany's business-financed gross domestic expenditure on R&D is projected to be 1.91% of GDP. This represents a slight decline from the actual value prior to 2024, as growth appears to be stagnating. Forecasts suggest a gradual decrease in this percentage through to 2028, reaching 1.87% of GDP. The small year-on-year decreases reflect a stable but slightly downward trend, as seen in both the 2025 and 2026 percentages that remain constant at 1.89% before dropping over the next two years.
Future trends to watch include potential shifts in government policy promoting R&D investment, technological advancements affecting business priorities, and global economic factors that may influence industrial innovation and spending decisions in Germany. Monitoring these areas will be critical to understanding the longer-term trajectory of R&D investment relative to GDP.
