Top 7 Energy R&D Share Countries Ranked By Global Spend

This energy r&d share ranking lists seven countries by their share of global energy R&D spending in 2022-2024, using data from the International Energy Agency’s The State of Energy Innovation 2026. It offers a snapshot of where public energy innovation weight is concentrated across these countries.

France leads at 7%, and the top three countries — France, Germany and Spain — combine for 17%, or 81% of the list total. That concentration is followed by a four-country group, each at 1%.

Energy R&D Share Ranked By Share of Global Energy R&D Spending, 2022-2024

How We Ranked These 7 Countries

• Ranked by: share of global energy r&d spending, 2022-2024 (%), 2022-2024 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 the countries listed in the table ranked by their share of global energy R&D spending over 2022-2024.
• Excluded: Excludes private-sector R&D, non-energy R&D and countries not listed in the table.
• Ties: entries with the same figure are listed in alphabetical order.
• 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. France: 7 %

France holds the top spot with a 7% share of global energy R&D spending in 2022-2024. That gives it 33.3% of the total covered by this seven-country list and puts it 1% ahead of Germany. The IEA table also lists France’s public energy R&D at 0.11% of GDP in 2022-2024. As an EU member state, its figure includes an estimate of its contribution to EU-level energy R&D spending. The report notes that France is already at around 0.1% of GDP when that EU-routed spending is included.

2. Germany: 6 %

Germany ranks second with a 6% share of global energy R&D spending in 2022-2024. It sits 1% behind France and 2% ahead of Spain, accounting for 28.6% of the total across this seven-country list. The IEA table also puts Germany’s public energy R&D at 0.07% of GDP in 2022-2024. As with other EU member states in the table, Germany’s figures include an estimate of its contribution to EU-level energy R&D spending.

3. Spain: 4 %

Spain places third with a 4% share of global energy R&D spending in 2022-2024. It trails Germany by 2% and stands 3% above Austria, which is the largest gap between neighbors in this ranking. Spain accounts for 19% of the total represented by the seven entries. The IEA lists Spain’s public energy R&D at 0.13% of GDP in 2022-2024. The report also notes Spain is already at around 0.1% of GDP when EU-routed energy R&D spending is included.

4. Austria: 1 %

Austria is fourth with a 1% share of global energy R&D spending in 2022-2024. It is 3% behind Spain and level with Belgium, starting a four-country block at 1%. The IEA table gives Austria’s public energy R&D as 0.10% of GDP in 2022-2024. Because Austria is an EU member state, the figure includes an estimate of its contribution to EU-level energy R&D spending.

5. Belgium: 1 %

Belgium ranks fifth with a 1% share of global energy R&D spending in 2022-2024. The gap to Austria is 0%, and Belgium is also level with Norway. Within this list, Belgium represents 4.8% of the total. The IEA records Belgium’s public energy R&D at 0.11% of GDP in 2022-2024. The report specifically notes that Belgium is already at around 0.1% of GDP when additional energy R&D spending routed via the EU budget is included.

6. Norway: 1 %

Norway takes sixth place with a 1% share of global energy R&D spending in 2022-2024. It is level with Belgium above it and Sweden below it, with a 0% gap on both sides. The IEA table lists Norway’s public energy R&D at 0.09% of GDP in 2022-2024. In the report text, Norway is highlighted separately because it is not an EU member state, and the IEA says it averaged 0.09% in 2021-2024. The chapter discusses 0.1% of GDP as a level governments have reasons to aim for.

7. Sweden: 1 %

Sweden is seventh with a 1% share of global energy R&D spending in 2022-2024. It is level with Norway, and the spread from France in first to Sweden in seventh is 6%. The IEA table gives Sweden’s public energy R&D as 0.07% of GDP in 2022-2024, matching Germany on that measure within this ranked group. As an EU member state, Sweden’s figure includes an estimate of its contribution to EU-level energy R&D spending.

The Top Three Countries Make Up 81% Of This List

These seven countries combine for 21% of global energy R&D spending in 2022-2024, but the distribution is concentrated at the top. France, Germany and Spain together account for 17%, equal to 81% of the list total. France alone represents 33.3% of the total across the seven entries, while Germany contributes 28.6% and Spain 19%.

Below the top three, Austria, Belgium, Norway and Sweden each stand at 1% and each represent 4.8% of the list total. The largest gap between neighbors is the 3% drop from Spain to Austria, while the smallest is the 0% gap between Austria and Belgium. From first to seventh, the spread is 6%.