Survey Overview and Positioning The "Science and Technology Indicators 2025" (Survey Material-349, official version with DOI) released by the National Institute of Science and Technology Policy (NISTEP), Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in August 2025, is an annual report that serves as fundamental reference material for systematically understanding Japan's science and technology activities through objective and quantitative data, presenting the status of Japan and major countries through approximately 160 indicators.
Japan's International Position The 2025 survey specifically demonstrates Japan's international standing in science and technology capabilities. Japan ranks 3rd among major countries (Japan, US, Germany, France, UK, China, South Korea - 7 countries) in research and development expenditure and number of researchers, 5th globally in number of publications (fractional counting method), and maintains 1st place globally in patents (patent family count). In terms of industrial competitiveness, Japan ranks 6th among major countries in high-technology industry trade balance ratio and 1st among major countries in medium-high-technology industry trade balance ratio, maintaining the same levels as the previous year's Science and Technology Indicators 2024.
Survey Structure and Special Analysis The report is structured around five categories: "Research and Development Expenditure," "Research and Development Personnel," "Higher Education and Science and Technology Personnel," "Research and Development Output," and "Science, Technology and Innovation," featuring the latest findings from NISTEP's proprietary research and analysis (publications and patents). Particularly noteworthy are six special columns providing detailed analyses that reflect current trends in science, technology, and innovation policy, including Japan-US comparisons of R&D expenditure as a percentage of corporate sales, analysis of price increases in research consumables, and analysis of high-technology industry trade focusing on Japan-US-China relationships. As an annual continuous survey, this indicator serves as crucial foundational material for Japan's science and technology policy formulation.