Science spending increases by 19pc in four years June 18, 2021 NEW YORK: Global R&D spending grew faster than the economy between 2014 and 2018 as countries around the world turned to research to bring on the green and digital transitions, says a new UNESCO report. Worldwide, science spending increased by 19% over the four years, while the number of scientists grew by 13.7% to 8.8 million. Since the start of 2020, the COVID-19 crisis further boosted this trend. The 762-page report covers 193 countries. “What struck me with this one is the alignment of development priorities with different income levels, whether they are industrialised or low-income countries,” Susan Schneegans, editor-in-chief of the report, told Science|Business. Countries around the globe are prioritising digital and green R&I investments to boost competitiveness and future preparedness.