A total of 672 million euros was invested in Scientific Research and Technological Development (R&D) activities in the A.C. of the Basque Country during 2002. Of this expenditure, 351 million (52.2%) corresponded to Bizkaia, 228 to Gipuzkoa (33.9%) and 93 to Álava (13.9%), according to Eustat data.

If the internal expenditure on R&D is compared to data for the previous year, in Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa it increased by 13% for the former and 7% for the latter, in contrast to the 2% fall that occurred in Álava.

These figures come even more clearly into focus when comparing R&D expenditure as a percentage of GDP (1.50% for the A.C. of the Basque Country), with the outstanding efforts of Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa who allotted 1.56% and 1.53% respectively to this area, while in Álava it was only 1.25%.

The figure of 1.5% of expenditure on R&D with respect to GDP marks the frontier between those countries that make a significant effort in research from those that make only low level investments; therefore, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa continue to be at the level of countries such as France, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Norway, Austria and Canada.

With regard to execution sectors, each province shows its own characteristics. In Álava expenditure on the Public Administration sectors continued to be of great importance, due to the concentration of various bodies dependant on the administration and the 22% increase of resources devoted to R&D. Additionally, the influence of the University continues to be lesser than in the rest of the A.C. of the Basque Country. As for the company sector, this was responsible for the overall fall in expenditure since 2002 saw a decrease of 8%.

In Gipuzkoa, however, Administration was the sector with the lowest expenditure, but there was an important rise in spending in the company sector due to its specific business fabric. The high level of the university sector was maintained due to the high proportion of technological faculties and the 14% increase in resources devoted to R&D for the year, higher than the average for the A.C. of the Basque Country (11%).

As for Bizkaia, expenditure in all sectors was high, but the university sector stands out, mainly because the Science Faculties of the University of the Basque Country are concentrated in the Leioa campus. However, it is worth mentioning that in 2002, company sector expenditure increased by over 30 million euros (an increase of 12%).

The scientific branch that spends the most and employs the highest number of personnel in all provinces is engineering and technology. However, this contribution was at its highest in Gipuzkoa, reaching a figure of 84% with respect to total R&D expenditure, while the lowest was in Bizkaia with 73%, leaving Álava in between at 76%.

The importance of private finance (64.5%) puts all three provinces above the state average (49.6%) and on a par with countries such as Germany, USA Switzerland and Belgium, as regards resources dedicated to company research.

With respect to women’s participation in R&D activities, 28% of the total personnel in Álava are women, in Bizkaia it is 32% and in Gipuzkoa 26%, percentages below the state average of 36%, mainly due to their discreet presence in the company sector.