The OECD Main Science and Technology Indicators (MSTI) provide a set of indicators that monitor key trends and compare the science and technology (S&T) performance of OECD member countries and selected non-member economies.

The MSTI database focuses principally on tracking financial and human resources devoted to research and experimental development (R&D), as defined in the OECD Frascati Manual, complemented by additional indicators of outputs and potential outcomes of S&T activities, namely patent data and international trade in R&D-intensive industries. MSTI also comprises several OECD economic and demographic statistical series which are used to calculate relevant benchmarks that account for differences in the relative size of economies, purchasing power and the effect of inflation.

  Download the statistical brief with highlights from the latest MSTI data (March 2024)

‌ Access the full MSTI database

 

 

Insights on the latest R&D trends

MSTI is published twice each year, in March and September. Each release of the MSTI database is complemented by a briefing note with highlights on the latest R&D tends and other key indicators.

The March edition revises previous data and contains the most timely but provisional aggregate indicators. The indicators in the September edition typically draw on data confirmed by countries as “final” as well as more disaggregated indicators. The September edition is also characterised by more complete reporting of indicators on government budgets for R&D by OECD member countries.

 

 

More than 140 indicators for monitoring S&T performance across countries

The MSTI database covers 148 key indicators for monitoring trends in S&T over time and across countries. It includes indicators on financial and personnel resources devoted to R&D in the different institutional sectors, as well as indicators on R&D funding, especially on government budget allocations for R&D. It also includes indicators of outputs and potential outcomes of S&T activities, namely patent data and international trade in R&D-intensive industries.

 

Note on data for Israel

Indicators on R&D expenditures, budgets, and personnel are derived from the OECD’s Research and Development Statistics Database (RDS), which is based on the data reported to OECD and Eurostat in the framework of the joint OECD/Eurostat international data collection on resources devoted to R&D. Sources for other indicators include the OECD databases on patents and Bilateral Trade in Goods by Industry and End-use category (BTDIxE).

 

Useful links

• OECD short-term Financial Tracker of Business R&D (SwiFTBeRD) dashboard
• OECD Research and Development Statistics database
• OECD ANBERD (Analytical Business Enterprise Research and Development) database
• OECD indicators on tax support for R&D
• OECD Scientometric and Bibliometric indicators
• Statistical briefing notes on the MSTI September 2023 and MSTI March 2023 releases. Briefing notes for older MSTI editions are available upon request (RDSurvey@oecd.org).
• OECD Intellectual Property (IP) statistics and analysis
• OECD Bilateral Trade Database by Industry and End-Use (BTDIxE)