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Research and Development

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 March 2021

Thursday, 25 March 2021

Questions (139)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

139. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide the public and private investment in research and development as a numerical value, a share of GDP, a share of GNI and a share of GNI* in each year since 2006, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16149/21]

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Written answers

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.

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