BRUSSELS, 4th August, 2023 (WAM) – In 2022, the total government budget allocations for RandD (GBARD) across the EU stood at, 117.4 million, equivalent to 0.74% of GDP. This was a 5.4% increase compared with 2021 (111 393 million) and a 49.2% increase compared with 2012 (78 656 million). Data on government budget allocations for RandD (GBARD) published by Eurostat today showed that in 2022, government budget allocations for RandD at the EU level stood at, 262.7 per person, a 47.2% increase compared with 2012 (178.5 per person). The highest allocations were recorded in Luxembourg (661.6 per person), followed at a distance by Denmark (529.1) and Germany (517.6). On the other hand, EU countries with the lowest RandD budget allocations per person were Romania (17.6 per person), Bulgaria (27.3) and Latvia (49.6). Between 2012 and 2022, all EU governments increased their budget allocations for RandD in terms of, per person. The largest percentage increases were recorded in Latvia (+208% from, 16.1 per person in 2012 to, 49.6 in 2022) and Greece (+129% from, 66.0 to, 151.2). Sweden registered the lowest percentage increase in this reference period (+4% from, 377.7 to, 391.6). The biggest share of the government budget allocations for RandD, namely 35.5%, was directed to the general advancement of knowledge financed in a large majority by a public block grant known as public general university funds (GUF), which many public higher education institutions receive to support all their activities. Next, the allocation of 16.5% of the GBARD was earmarked for the general advancement of knowledge from other sources than GUF, followed by 10.2% to industrial production and technology, 8.3% to health and 5.9% to exploration and exploitation of space. Although the most representative objectives in 2022 are the same as in 2021, a significant increase was observed in defence, from 2.6% in the previous year to 4.2% in 2022.

Source: Emirates News Agency (WAM)