Spending on research and development continues to rise in Taiwan, exceeding 3 percent of gross domestic product in 2012 and reaffirming the government’s commitment to establishing the nation as a regional R&D center within the Asia-Pacific region.
Taiwan’s ratio of R&D expenditure to GDP was 3.1 percent in 2012, up from 3 percent in 2011 and 2.9 percent in 2010. This figure climbed above 2.1 percent in 2001 and has been increasing ever since, according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs July 15.
“Such a positive trend helps support multinational production activities and enhances the role Taiwan plays in global R&D,” an MOEA official said. “It also gives the R&D activity of Taiwan industry greater depth and encourages local firms to focus on cutting-edge research.”
The MOEA statistics are based upon the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development’s latest Main Science and Technology Indicators. Published biannually, the indicators reflect the resources devoted by OECD members and nonmembers to R&D, patent families, technology balance of payments and international trade in highly R&D-intensive industries. Taiwan, along with Argentina, Israel, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa and mainland China, is an OECD nonmember.
Taiwan’s R&D spending in 2012 centered on the computer, electronics and optical industries, accounting for 72.7 percent. Chemicals and related products comprised 3.2 percent and electrical machinery 2.9 percent. The bulk of R&D expenditure was carried out by business enterprises at 74.1 percent, according to the MOEA.
In comparison, rival South Korea allocated 49.9 percent of its total R&D spending to the computer, electronics and optical industries, with 11.3 percent and 6.3 percent to the auto and machinery industries, respectively.
In the Asia-Pacific, Taiwan finished third in R&D spending, trailing South Korea, 4.4 percent, and Japan, 3.4 percent. The country finished ahead of the U.S., 2.8 percent; Singapore, 2 percent; mainland China, 2 percent; and Canada, 1.7 percent. (JSM)
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