Global Total Internal R&D Personnel in Research and Experimental Development on Natural Sciences and Engineering Share by Country (Units (Full-Time Equivalent))

In 2023, the United Kingdom led the share of global total internal R&D personnel in natural sciences and engineering, followed by Germany and Spain. Noteworthy growth was observed in South Korea and Taiwan, with year-on-year increases of 28.03% and 24.59% respectively, highlighting their emerging focus on R&D expansions. Other countries such as Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic also showed positive momentum. Conversely, Slovenia and Romania experienced declines, with Romania showing a notable decrease of 14.5%. Over the last five years, these trends indicate dynamic shifts in R&D priorities and investments among countries.

Future trends to watch for in global R&D personnel distribution include:

• The acceleration of digital transformation, driving more countries to invest in engineering fields.
• Asia's continued expansion in R&D, as evidenced by significant increases in South Korea and Taiwan, could alter global leadership dynamics.
• Potential rebalancing in Europe as smaller economies like Poland and Hungary expand their R&D commitments.
• Continued efforts by countries experiencing declines to invigorate their R&D sectors to remain competitive globally.