How much does research and development activity contribute to your state’s economy? How does that compare nationally? And how have R&D trends shifted across industries? To help answer these questions and more, the Bureau of Economic Analysis is updating and expanding R&D statistics introduced last year.
On Sept. 3, BEA will release updated experimental national and state R&D statistics, offering new insights into the economic activity associated with R&D production. R&D production is an economic measure of R&D performed during a set period; it doesn’t address the future value flowing from research discoveries. This year’s release builds on the statistics issued last year, extending the timespan back to 2012 and adding two recent years: 2022 and 2023. This will provide a more timely and comprehensive view of R&D’s role in the U.S. economy.
These statistics allow policymakers, businesses, and researchers to better understand R&D trends. One important insight is R&D production’s contribution to gross domestic product (GDP), known as R&D value added. The data also show the corresponding R&D employment and compensation.
BEA’s data measure R&D production across three key sectors: business, government, and nonprofit institutions serving households. For the business sector, the statistics offer additional detail on R&D-intensive industries in each state, such as computer and electronic product manufacturing; chemical manufacturing (including pharmaceuticals); and professional, scientific, and technical services.
The R&D statistics are developed with funding and support from the National Science Foundation’s National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES). They combine data from NCSES with BEA’s national accounting framework to show the impact of R&D on GDP as it is performed. In the state statistics, R&D production is attributed to the state in which it is performed.
The development of these statistics is part of BEA’s ongoing effort to better measure the contribution of R&D to the U.S. economy. The experimental R&D statistics complement BEA’s national and state GDP statistics and provide a state-level perspective on a critical driver of innovation and economic growth.
BEA is seeking public feedback on these statistics. Comments can be submitted to RandD@bea.gov.