The “Science and Technology Indicators” is published annually as a valuable resource for understanding Japanese science and technology activities based on objective and quantitative data. It has five chapters: (1) R&D Expenditure, (2) R&D Human Resources, (3) Higher Education and S&T Personnel, (4) R&D Output, and (5) Science, Technology and Innovation.

 

The 2018 edition includes new indicators, including “university researchers’ term;” “trial analysis on the trend of papers in social sciences;” “relationship between paper-to-paper citations and paper-to-patent family citations;” and “patent application trends in automobile manufacturing industry.” In total, 21 indicators were newly introduced and visualization methods were revised. Also, to commemorate NISTEP’s 30^th anniversary, a special episode column was added.

The major findings in the 2018 version were R&D expenditure and the number of researchers in Japan are the third largest among major countries (Japan, U.S., Germany, France, U.K., China and Korea); the number of papers in Japan (fraction counting method) is the fourth in the world and the number of papers with high citations is the ninth; and Japan continues to be the world first place in the patent family (patent applications to more than two countries). These trends continue from the previous edition. Other findings are the number of collaborative research between Japanese universities and private firms and the amount of research funding are steadily increasing; although the number of company-produced papers is decreasing, the proportion of the number of industry-academia collaborative papers has increased; and the university’s role in research activities at private firms that produce papers is increasing.

 

The indicators in full can be obtained at this website in Japanese language. The English version is now being worked and will be published later.