European science, technology and innovation statistics published

Eurostat, the statistical office of the European communities, has published the 2009 edition of its Science, Technology and Innovation in Europe report. The findings of the report show that in 2007, EU members spent €229 billion on research and development, 1.85% of their GDP, compared with 2.67% in the US. Furthermore, Germany, who spent €62 billion, France, who spent €39 billion, and the UK, who spent €37 billion, accounted for 60% of the total spending.

The report found that as a percentage of GDP, the highest spending was in Sweden (3.60%) and Finland (3.47%), followed by Austria (2.56%) and the lowest were Cyprus (0.45%), Slovakia (0.46%) and Bulgaria (0.48%).

The percentage of GDP spent on R&D remains unchanged from 2006, however, this remains well below the target laid down by the European Council in the Lisbon strategy, which was to have that total figure reach 3% by 2010.

The highest increases in R&D intensity between 2001 and 2007 were found in Austria (from 2.07% of GDP to 2.56%), Estonia (from 0.71% to 1.14%) and Portugal (from 0.80% to 1.18%).

The report can be downloaded free from the Eurostat website.