Top 10 Energy R&D Spending Countries Ranked By Outlays

This ranking of energy R&D spending lists the 10 countries with the highest public energy R&D spending in 2024 among participants in IEA RD&D budget data-sharing, based on the International Energy Agency's The State of Energy Innovation 2026.

Japan leads the table at 2,698 Million USD (2024, MER), with France close behind at 2,658 Million USD (2024, MER). Together with the United Kingdom, the top three countries account for 7,441 Million USD (2024, MER), or 61.3% of the total for all 10 countries in this ranking.

Energy R&D Spending Ranked By Energy R&D Spending in 2024

How We Ranked These 10 Countries

• Ranked by: energy r&d spending in 2024 (Million USD (2024, MER)), 2024 data. This is the only measure used for the order.
• Data source: International Energy Agency (IEA), The State of Energy Innovation 2026, retrieved 2026-11-09.
• Included: Includes countries participating in IEA RD&D budget data-sharing with reported public energy R&D spending for 2024.
• Excluded: Excludes private/company R&D and countries without a reported 2024 figure.
• Ties: none in this list. If two entries had the same figure, % of gdp in 2024 would decide.
• Figures: reported exactly as published by the source. CleanTech Journal does not estimate or adjust them; comparisons between entries are our own calculation from these figures.

1. Japan: 2,698 Million USD (2024, MER)

Japan ranks first with public energy R&D spending of 2,698 Million USD (2024, MER), equal to 22.2% of the list total. Its lead over France is 40 Million USD (2024, MER), making the top of the ranking very close. The IEA lists Japan's 2024 spending at 0.033% of GDP. In the technology breakdown, Japan's three largest areas of energy R&D spending are Nuclear, Energy efficiency and Fossil fuels. The country reported 2,241 Million USD (2024, MER) in 2023 before moving higher in 2024.

2. France: 2,658 Million USD (2024, MER)

France places second with 2,658 Million USD (2024, MER), accounting for 21.9% of the total across the 10 ranked countries. It sits 40 Million USD (2024, MER) behind Japan and 573 Million USD (2024, MER) ahead of the United Kingdom, creating a clearer break between second and third place. France's 2024 spending is listed at 0.084% of GDP. According to the IEA's technology-area table, its three largest areas of energy R&D spending are Nuclear, Energy efficiency and Hydrogen and fuel cells. France's reported spending also rose from 2,565 Million USD (2024, MER) in 2023 to 2,658 in 2024.

3. United Kingdom: 2,085 Million USD (2024, MER)

The United Kingdom is third at 2,085 Million USD (2024, MER), representing 17.2% of the list total. It trails France by 573 Million USD (2024, MER) and stands 524 Million USD (2024, MER) above Canada. The IEA reports the UK's 2024 public energy R&D spending at 0.057% of GDP. Its three largest areas of energy R&D spending are Nuclear, Energy efficiency and Renewable energy sources. In the annual series shown in the report, the UK's spending moved from 1,752 Million USD (2024, MER) in 2023 to 2,085 in 2024.

4. Canada: 1,561 Million USD (2024, MER)

Canada holds fourth place with 1,561 Million USD (2024, MER), or 12.9% of the list total. It is 524 Million USD (2024, MER) behind the United Kingdom and 877 Million USD (2024, MER) ahead of Norway. That Canada-to-Norway gap is the largest gap between neighbours in the ranking. Canada's 2024 spending is listed at 0.070% of GDP. In the technology split, its three largest areas of energy R&D spending are Energy efficiency, Nuclear and Fossil Fuels. The IEA data table shows Canada's spending at 1,401 Million USD (2024, MER) in 2023 before reaching 1,561 in 2024.

5. Norway: 684 Million USD (2024, MER)

Norway ranks fifth with public energy R&D spending of 684 Million USD (2024, MER), equal to 5.6% of the 10-country total. It follows Canada after an 877 Million USD (2024, MER) gap and stays 60 Million USD (2024, MER) ahead of Korea. The IEA reports Norway's 2024 spending at 0.141% of GDP. Its three largest areas of energy R&D spending are Energy Efficiency, Fossil Fuels and Hydrogen and fuel cells. Norway's annual figures in the report move from 477 Million USD (2024, MER) in 2023 to 684 in 2024.

6. Korea: 624 Million USD (2024, MER)

Korea is sixth at 624 Million USD (2024, MER), accounting for 5.1% of the list total. It sits 60 Million USD (2024, MER) behind Norway and 75 Million USD (2024, MER) ahead of Belgium, placing it in a relatively tight mid-table cluster. The source note highlights that Korea's 2023 value was 723. In the IEA technology-area ranking, Korea's three largest areas of energy R&D spending are Energy efficiency, Nuclear and Hydrogen and fuel cells. The country therefore enters 2024 from a higher 2023 base, but remains in the top 10 by outlays.

7. Belgium: 549 Million USD (2024, MER)

Belgium takes seventh place with 549 Million USD (2024, MER), or 4.5% of the total across the ranked countries. It is 75 Million USD (2024, MER) behind Korea and 115 Million USD (2024, MER) ahead of Austria. Belgium's 2024 spending is listed at 0.083% of GDP. In the IEA breakdown by technology area, its three largest areas of energy R&D spending are Nuclear, Energy efficiency and Hydrogen and fuel cells. The time series in the report shows Belgium rising from 528 Million USD (2024, MER) in 2023 to 549 in 2024.

8. Austria: 434 Million USD (2024, MER)

Austria ranks eighth with 434 Million USD (2024, MER), representing 3.6% of the list total. It trails Belgium by 115 Million USD (2024, MER) and is only 5 Million USD (2024, MER) ahead of Switzerland. That Austria-to-Switzerland difference is the smallest gap between neighbours in the ranking. Austria's 2024 spending equals 0.083% of GDP in the IEA table. Its three largest areas of energy R&D spending are Energy efficiency, Renewable energy sources and Hydrogen and fuel cells. The country reported 347 Million USD (2024, MER) in 2023 before reaching 434 in 2024.

9. Switzerland: 429 Million USD (2024, MER)

Switzerland is ninth with public energy R&D spending of 429 Million USD (2024, MER), which is 3.5% of the list total. It sits just 5 Million USD (2024, MER) behind Austria and 17 Million USD (2024, MER) ahead of the Netherlands, so the bottom of the ranking is tightly grouped. The IEA lists Switzerland's 2024 spending at 0.046% of GDP. Its three largest areas of energy R&D spending are Renewable energy sources, Energy efficiency and Other power and storage technologies. Switzerland reported 435 Million USD (2024, MER) in 2023 and 429 in 2024.

10. Netherlands: 412 Million USD (2024, MER)

The Netherlands rounds out the top 10 with 412 Million USD (2024, MER), equal to 3.4% of the list total. It is 17 Million USD (2024, MER) below Switzerland, keeping the lower end of the table close. The IEA reports Dutch spending at 0.034% of GDP in 2024. Its three largest areas of energy R&D spending are Energy efficiency, Renewable energy sources and Fossil fuels. In the annual data series, the Netherlands moved from 173 Million USD (2024, MER) in 2023 to 412 in 2024, returning to a higher level while remaining tenth in this ranking.

The Top Three Countries Make Up 61.3% Of Total Public Energy R&D Spending

The 10 ranked countries together account for 12,134 Million USD (2024, MER) in public energy R&D spending. Japan, France and the United Kingdom alone contribute 7,441 Million USD (2024, MER), which is 61.3% of that total. Japan's share is 22.2%, France's is 21.9%, and the United Kingdom's is 17.2%, showing how much of the spending is concentrated in the top three positions.

The ranking also has clear breaks and tight clusters. The spread from #1 to #10 is 2,286 Million USD (2024, MER). The largest gap between neighbours is Canada to Norway at 877 Million USD (2024, MER), while the smallest gap is Austria to Switzerland at 5 Million USD (2024, MER). Near the bottom, Switzerland and the Netherlands are also close, separated by 17 Million USD (2024, MER).