Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD) expressed as a percentage of GDP/GNP/GNI* stood at an estimated 1.13%, 1.47% and 1.88% respectively in 2019.
The OECD defines GERD as the total expenditure (current and capital) on R&D carried out by all resident companies, research institutes, university and government laboratories, etc., in a country. It includes R&D funded from abroad but excludes domestic funds for R&D performed outside the domestic economy.
As a percentage of GDP/GNP/GNI*, GERD has fallen since 2012. However, the actual amount of R&D investment has increased by 46.2% over this period and reached an estimated €4.027bn in 2019.
The table below shows the GERD and as a percentage of GDP, GNP and GNI* for the years 2006-2018, with an estimate for 2019. Figures for 2020 are not yet available.
|
GERD as % GDP
|
GERD as % GNP
|
GERD as % GNI*
|
GERD
€m.
|
2006
|
1.20%
|
1.38%
|
1.40%
|
2,214
|
2007
|
1.23%
|
1.44%
|
1.47%
|
2,432
|
2008
|
1.39%
|
1.62%
|
1.66%
|
2,606
|
2009
|
1.61%
|
1.94%
|
2.03%
|
2,736
|
2010
|
1.59%
|
1.92%
|
2.07%
|
2,669
|
2011
|
1.50%
|
1.87%
|
2.02%
|
2,564
|
2012
|
1.57%
|
1.99%
|
2.18%
|
2,758
|
2013
|
1.58%
|
1.89%
|
2.08%
|
2,849
|
2014
|
1.52%
|
1.81%
|
2.00%
|
2,967
|
2015
|
1.18%
|
1.55%
|
1.93%
|
3,109
|
2016
|
1.25%
|
1.54%
|
1.94%
|
3,414
|
2017
|
1.25%
|
1.58%
|
2.02%
|
3,725
|
2018
|
1.18%
|
1.50%
|
1.93%
|
3,812
|
2019 (est)
|
1.13%
|
1.47%
|
1.88%
|
4,027
|
Further details on the Government’s public expenditure on research and development are published each year in the R&D Budget Survey. This publication is compiled from a comprehensive survey of thirty Government Departments and Agencies. The most recent report was published by DETE in January 2021 and is available here:
https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/Publications/The-RD-Budget-2019-2020.html.
Following a Government decision to transfer certain research and innovation functions, the R&D Budget Survey will be undertaken by my Department from 2021 onwards.