Internationalization of research and development in the 21st century: international statistics and key trends

Cover Page

Cite item

Full Text

Open Access Open Access
Restricted Access Access granted
Restricted Access Subscription or Fee Access

Abstract

The objective of the study was to assess, on the base of diverse statistical data, whether there was a sustainable strengthening of international cooperation in research and development (R&D) in the first two decades of the 21st century; and to identify the main competitors of the countries leading in the scientific and technological (S&T) development. For this purpose, the dynamics of foreign R&D financing, foreign patenting of residents and the volumes of international charges for the use of intellectual property (IP) were analyzed for the leading and some of developing countries. It was found that in 2000–2020, there was an increase in interrelations in the R&D cooperation between the countries. The dynamics of payments and receipts from the use of IP showed the weakening of the world leaders’ monopoly in R&D due to the gradual diffusion of not only high-tech production, but of R&D for them as well. Stagnation or decline in foreign R&D funding, recorded in most of the countries, may indicate not only financial difficulties, but also a desire to develop advanced technologies domestically. Traditional leaders in scientific and technological development are beginning to be challenged by competitors from both developed (Ireland, the Netherlands) and developing countries (China). And meanwhile developed countries compete primarily in the sphere of production and individual high-tech industries, China is capable of not only be present in many industry markets, but also to carry out its own developments.

Full Text

Restricted Access

About the authors

A. A. Kravtsov

Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Author for correspondence.
Email: kravtsov@imemo.ru

кандидат экономических наук, старший научный сотрудник отдела науки и инноваций

Russian Federation, Moscow

References

  1. Chesnais F. La mondialisation du capital. Paris: Syros, 1994.
  2. Patel P., Pavitt K. Large firms in the production of the world’s technology: an important case of “non-globalisation” // Journal of International Business Studies. 1991, vol. 22(l), pp. 1–22. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1057/palgrave.jibs.8490289
  3. Archibugi D., Michie J. Technological globalization or national systems of innovation? // Futures. 1997, vol. 29(2), pp. 121–137. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0016-3287(96)00072-9
  4. Gammeltoft P. Internationalisation of R&D: trends, drivers and managerial challenges // Technology and Globalisation. 2006, vol. 2(1/2), pp. 177–199. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJTG.2006.009133
  5. Awate S., Larsen M., Mudambi R. Accessing vs sourcing knowledge: A comparative study of R&D internationalization between emerging and advanced economy firms // Journal of International Business Studies. 2015, vol. 46, pp. 63–86. https://doi.org/10.1057/jibs.2014.46
  6. Zhenzhong M., Yender L., Chien-Fu P. Booming or emerging? China’s technological capability and international collaboration in patent activities // Technological Forecasting & Social Change. 2009, vol. 76(6), pp. 787–796. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2008.11.003
  7. Thomson R. National scientific capacity and R&D offshoring // Research Policy. 2013, vol. 42(2), pp. 517–528. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2012.07.003
  8. Rycroft R. Technology-based globalization indicators: the centrality of innovation network data // Technology in Society. 2003, vol. 25(3), pp. 299–317. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0160-791X(03)00047-2
  9. Клауберг Р. Глобализация и технологическая эволюция: влияние на экономику и общество в США // Вестник Дипломатической академии МИД России. Россия и мир. 2019. № 2(20). С. 26–39. https://dipacademy.ru/documents/1534/%D0%92%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA__2-2019.pdf
  10. Clauberg R. Globalization and Technological Evolution: Impact on the Economy and Society in the USA // Bulletin of the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia. Russia and the World. 2019, no. 2(20), p. 26–39. (In Russ.)
  11. Technological Sovereignty: methodology and recommendations // VDE position paper: ITG VDE Publishing, 2019. https://www.vde.com/resource/blob/2013656/66f71138ba34b7b3ad0e2aa248b71abd/vde-position-paper-technological-sovereignty-data.pdf
  12. Müller-Quade J., Reussner R., Beyerer J. Karlsruher Thesen zur Digitalen Souveränität Europas. // Datenschutz und Datensicherheit. 2018, vol. 42(5), pp. 277–280. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11623-018-0940-2
  13. Edler J., Knut B., Kroll H., Schubert T. Technology sovereignty as an emerging frame for innovation policy. Defining rationales, ends and means // Research Policy. 2023, vol. 52(6), p. 104765. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2023.104765
  14. Ruimin B., Zhaobin F. Digitalization of services, Innovation and manufacturing GVC upstreamness // Technology in Society. 2024, vol. 78. 102660. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2024.102660
  15. Xiongfeng P., Jiahong Y. Global Value Chain, GVC, biased technological change and reginal total factor productivity differences // Technological Forecasting and Social Change. 2024, vol. 206. 123538. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2024.123538
  16. Seohee A. Shifted paradigm in technonationalism in the 21st century: The influence of global value chain (GVC) and US-China competition on international politics and global commerce – A case study of Japan’s semiconductor industry // Asia and the Global Economy. 2023, vol. 3(2). 100063. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aglobe.2023.100063
  17. Chychkalo-Kondratska I., Bezrukova N. The new vectors of technoglobalizm // Economic Annals-XXI. 2013, vol. 9–10(1), pp. 7–10. https://ea21journal.world/index.php/ea-v133-02/
  18. Иванова Н.И. Эволюция технологической глобализации // Современная мировая экономика. 2023. № 1(1). С. 95–111. https://doi.org/10.17323/2949-5776-2023-1-1-95-111. Ivanova N.I. Evolution of technological globalization // Modern world economy. 2023, no. 1(1), pp. 95–111. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.17323/2949-5776-2023-1-1-95-111
  19. OECD.Stat – Science, Technology and Patents – Research and Development Statistics. https://stats.oecd.org
  20. WIPO IP Statistical Data Center – Patents. https://www3.wipo.int/ipstats/index.htm?tab=patent
  21. The World Bank – Featured Indicators – Charges for the use of intellectual property, payments (BoP, current US$). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/BM.GSR.ROYL.CD
  22. The World Bank – Featured Indicators – Charges for the use of intellectual property, receipts (BoP, current US$). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/BX.GSR.ROYL.CD

Supplementary files

Supplementary Files
Action
1. JATS XML
Download
2. Fig. 1. Payments for the use of intellectual property in 2000, % of the global volume

Download (162KB)
Indexing metadata
3. Fig. 2. Payments for the use of intellectual property in 2022, % of the global volume

Download (185KB)
Indexing metadata
4. Fig. 3. Revenues from the use of IP in 2000, % of the global volume

Download (147KB)
Indexing metadata
5. Fig. 4. Revenues from the use of IP in 2022, % of the global volume

Download (152KB)
Indexing metadata

Copyright (c) 2025 Russian academy of sciences