U.S. R & D Increased by $22 Billion in 2016, to $515 Billion; Estimates for 2017 Indicate a Rise to $542 Billion

New data from the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics within the National Science Foundation depict that research and experimental development performed in the United States, totaled $515.3 billion in 2016. The estimated total for 2017, based on performer-reported expectations, is $542.2 billion. Data in current dollars show sizable, annual increases over the most recent years: up $20.3 billion in 2013, $21.5 billion in 2014, $18.3 billion in 2015, and $21.6 billion in 2016. After essentially no change between 2008 and 2010, yearly increases from 2011 to 2016 averaged $18.1 billion, owing mainly to consistently growing levels of business R&D performance.
Source: NSF - Statistics on U.S. Science and Engineering Resources - Category: Statistics Source Type: news