New data collected by the National Science Foundation (NSF) have resulted in an upward revision in the previously published 2011 U.S. R&D performance total, and further expansion of U.S. R&D performance is indicated for 2012. These new data put U.S. R&D expenditures at $428.2 billion in 2011, an increase of $20.5 billion over 2010. The preliminary estimate of the 2012 U.S. total for R&D is $452.6 billion.
After accounting for inflation, R&D grew at a faster rate than the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2011. Preliminary data for 2012 indicate similar findings. This growth is in marked contrast to data for 2009 and 2010, which showed essentially no growth in R&D, even while GDP did expand both years. The data showed that the renewed increase in business R&D contributed most significantly to the improved U.S. R&D numbers for 2011 and 2012.
Source: National Science Foundation
