Taiwan Will Reach Eighth in Global R&D by 2028
Global research spending shifts show Taiwan, Türkiye, South Korea, and Poland rising in influence by 2028.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Economic Indicators
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By 2028, Taiwan is projected to rank eighth globally in research and development spending, reaching an investment of $111 billion. This growth trajectory will see Taiwan overtake France, while Türkiye, South Korea, and Poland also expand their research investments.
Why it matters
Rising R&D intensity reflects a global pivot toward high-tech self-sufficiency and strategic industrial growth. Nations are increasingly using tax policy and industry-specific demand to secure competitive advantages in critical sectors like semiconductors and defense.
Taiwan's R&D intensity rose from 3.16% in 2015 to 4.1% in 2024, while South Korea's spending reached 5% of its GDP by 2026. Additionally, Poland increased its private sector R&D funding from 39% in 2015 to 57.8% in 2024.
The players
Taiwan
This island nation is a global leader in semiconductor manufacturing and high-tech research.
Türkiye
This country is aggressively expanding its domestic defense manufacturing sector through tax incentives.
South Korea
This nation heavily prioritizes corporate-led research, particularly in high-bandwidth memory for artificial intelligence.
Poland
This country has seen a significant increase in private business funding for research and development activities.
France
This European nation currently serves as a benchmark for research and development intensity levels.
The details
Taiwan's expansion is driven heavily by semiconductor manufacturing, which accounts for half of its total R&D spending. Meanwhile, Türkiye has shifted its focus toward domestic defense and aerospace, which comprised 58% of the country's reported R&D in 2025 following a 2020 cutoff from U.S. weapon supplies.
Timeline
Poland's R&D intensity was 0.66% in 2009.
Türkiye saw 10.9% annual R&D growth from 2013 to 2023.
Taiwan's R&D intensity reached 4.1% in 2024.
Türkiye is projected to surpass Brazil in R&D spending in 2027.
Taiwan is projected to outrank France in global R&D by 2028.
Macro View
These trends mirror historical shifts where emerging economies transition from basic manufacturing to high-tech research hubs. This data follows the patterns established in the 2025 Turkishtime 500 report to explain the shift in Türkiye's defense spending.
The shift toward high-tech R&D can signal lower costs for consumer electronics and more stable job markets in specialized engineering sectors. Readers may see increased investment in local defense or tech industries as governments leverage tax credits to spur private innovation.
The takeaway
Nations are increasingly treating research and development as a matter of national security rather than just economic policy. Countries that successfully incentivize private sector innovation through tax credits and focused industrial demand tend to climb the global rankings fastest.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest Economic Indicators affecting global investment trends.
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