National Patterns of R&D Resources
As part of NCSES's ongoing website redesign project, the National Patterns of R&D Resources page has been reimagined. Beginning in January 2023, only data from the 2019–20 cycle and earlier will be available on this page. Data from the 2020–21 cycle and all subsequent cycles will be published on our new National Patterns of R&D Resources page.
This series presents trend data on the overall research and development effort in the United States. Information includes R&D expenditures by sector of performance, source of funds, character of R&D work, R&D-to-GDP ratios, and international comparisons.
U.S. R&D Investments
Discover NCSES's data, capabilities, and expertise in understanding U.S. R&D investments for informed decision-making.
Most recent data year
- U.S. R&D Increased by $62 Billion in 2019 to $667 Billion; Estimate for 2020 Indicates a Further Rise to $708 Billion
InfoBriefs | NSF 22-330 | June 1, 2022 - National Patterns of R&D Resources: 2019-20 Data Update
DATA TABLES | NSF 22-320 | February 22, 2022 - New Data on U.S. R&D: Summary Statistics from the 2019–20 Edition of National Patterns of R&D Resources
Other | NSF 22-314 | December 27, 2021 - US R&D Increased by $51 Billion in 2018, to $606 Billion; Estimate for 2019 Indicates a Further Rise to $656 Billion
InfoBriefs | NSF 21-324 | April 13, 2021 - National Patterns of R&D Resources: 2018–19 Data Update
Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 21-325 | April 9, 2021 - U.S. R&D Increased by $32 Billion in 2017, to $548 billion; Estimate for 2018 Indicates a Further Rise to $580 billion
InfoBriefs | NSF 20-309 | January 8, 2020 - National Patterns of R&D Resources: 2017–18 Data Update
Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 20-307 | January 8, 2020 - The United States Invests More in Applied and Basic Research than Any Other Country but Invests Less in Experimental Development than China
Other | NSF 20-304 | December 3, 2019 - U.S. R&D Increased by $22 Billion in 2016, to $515 Billion; Estimates for 2017 Indicate a Rise to $542 Billion
InfoBriefs | NSF 19-308 | February 27, 2019 - National Patterns of R&D Resources: 2016–17 Data Update
Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 19-309 | February 27, 2019 - National Patterns of R&D Resources: 2015-16 Data Update
Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 18-309 | May 21, 2018 - U.S. R&D Increased by $20 Billion in 2015, to $495 Billion; Estimates for 2016 Indicate a Rise to $510 Billion
InfoBriefs | NSF 18-306 | December 14, 2017 - National Patterns of R&D Resources: 2014–15 Data Update
Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 17-311 | March 14, 2017 - U.S. R&D Increased by More Than $20 Billion in Both 2013 and 2014, with Similar Increase Estimated for 2015(A)
InfoBriefs | NSF 16-316 | September 15, 2016 - U.S. R&D Increased in 2013, Well Ahead of the Pace of Gross Domestic Product(A)
InfoBriefs | NSF 15-330 | September 8, 2015 - U.S. R&D Resumes Growth in 2011 and 2012, Ahead of the Pace of the Gross Domestic Product(A)
InfoBriefs | NSF 14-307 | December 30, 2013 - National Patterns of R&D Resources: 2011–12 Data Update(A)
Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 14-304 | December 30, 2013 - National Patterns of R&D Resources: 2010–11 Data Update(A)
Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 13-318 | April 15, 2013 - U.S. R&D Spending Resumes Growth in 2010 and 2011 but Still Lags Behind the Pace of Expansion of the National Economy(A)
InfoBriefs | NSF 13-313 | January 10, 2013 - National Patterns of R&D Resources: 2009 Data Update(A)
Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 12-321 | June 28, 2012 - U.S. R&D Spending Suffered a Rare Decline in 2009 but Outpaced the Overall Economy(A)
InfoBriefs | NSF 12-310 | March 14, 2012 - National Patterns of R&D Resources: 2008 Data Update(A)
Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 10-314 | March 29, 2010 - New NSF Estimates Indicate that U.S. R&D Spending Continued to Grow in 2008(A)
InfoBriefs | NSF 10-312 | January 29, 2010 - National Patterns of R&D Resources: 2007 Data Update(A)
Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 08-318 | November 14, 2008 - New Estimates of National Research and Development Expenditures Show 5.8% Growth in 2007(A)
InfoBriefs | NSF 08-317 | August 27, 2008 - National Patterns of R&D Resources: 2006 Data Update(A)
Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 07-331 | September 14, 2007 - U.S. R&D Increased 6.0% in 2006 According to NSF Projections(A)
InfoBriefs | NSF 07-317 | April 16, 2007 - National Patterns of R&D Resources: 2004 Data Update(A)
Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 06-327 | September 25, 2006 - National Patterns of R&D Resources: 2002 Data Update(A)
Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 03-313 | January 1, 2004 - National Patterns of R&D Resources: 2000 Data Update(A)
Special Reports | NSF 01-309 | December 6, 2000 - Sixth Year of Unprecedented R&D Growth Expected in 2000(A)
InfoBriefs | NSF 01-310 | November 29, 2000 - National Patterns of R&D Resources: 1999 Data Update(A)
Special Reports | NSF 00-306 | November 18, 1999 - National Patterns of R&D Resources: 1997 Data Update(A)
Special Reports | SRS 98-402 | March 1, 1998 - R&D Exceeds Expectations Again, Growing Faster than the US Economy during the Last Three Years(A)
InfoBriefs | NSF 97-328 | November 1, 1997 - R&D Growth Exceeded Expectations, but May Slow in 1996(A)
InfoBriefs | NSF 96-328 | November 19, 1996 - National Patterns of R&D Resources: 1995 Data Update(A)
Special Reports | SRS 95-409 | October 1, 1995 - US Research & Development Expenditures Continued Slow Growth in 1994(A)
InfoBriefs | NSF 95-303 | May 25, 1995
(A): Archived Publication
Last Updated: February 27, 2023
