Press release dated 7/3/2011
Gipuzkoa consolidated its position over the European average of expenditure on R&D in terms of the GDP
Expenditure in terms of the GDP came to 2.41% in Gipuzkoa, 1.85% in Bizkaia and 1.54% in Álava in 2009
For the third consecutive year, Gipuzkoa (2.41%) exceeded the EU-27 average expenditure (2.01%) on Technological Development and Scientific Research in terms of GDP, which highlighted the difference with the other two provinces of the Basque Country. Bizkaia (1.85%) and Álava (1.54%) likewise continued to grow on the previous year (1.74% and 1.46%, respectively), which meant that the three provinces were higher than the Spanish average (1.38%).
In 2009, 1,281 million euros (1.98% of the GDP) were invested in Scientific Research and Technological Development (R&D) in the Basque Country. Bizkaia accounted for 609 million euros (47.6%) of the total expenditure of the Basque Country, while Gipuzkoa spent 510 million (39.8%) and Álava 162 million (12.6%). These percentages were similar to the figures for 2008, with it decreasing in Álava by 0.44 percentage points and increasing in Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa by 0.28 and 0.16 respectively.
The increase in internal expenditure on R&D was 1.35% for the Basque Country as a whole compared to the previous year. Bizkaia increased expenditure from 598 to 609 million, Gipuzkoa from 501 to 510, which it fell in Álava from 165 to 162 million euros.
When broken down by type of expenditure, current expenditure in the Basque Country increased from 1,033 to 1,076 million in the last year (+4.2%). By province, Bizkaia increased spending from 495 to 516 million (+4.2%) and Gipuzkoa from 401 to 426 (+6.2%). On the other hand, Álava reduced its expenditure from 137 to 134 million euros (-2.1%),
In terms of spending on capital (investments in land, buildings, equipment and instruments), it fell from 231 to 205 million euros, 11.3% down on 2008. This decrease was recorded in the three provinces, although it was unequally divided: it was down by -16.2% in Bizkaia, by -9.0% in Gipuzkoa and -2.1% in Álava.
By implementation sectors, the business sector continued to account for the greatest percentage of expenditure in the three provinces, although the presence of this sector decreased in all of them with respect to 2008. On the other hand, the University and Public Administration sectors registered growth in each of the three provinces.
Each one of the provinces had its own specific features. In Álava, expenditure in the Public Administration sector was greater and accounted for 9.9% of the total expenditure of this province. However, this expenditure was lower in Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa, 6.6% and 3.2%, respectively.
Gipuzkoa, with 80.3% and 409 million euros, was the province where the business sector had the greatest presence. It was followed by Álava (75.8% and 124 millions) and Bizkaia (73.2% and 446 millions).
Bizkaia stood out for the involvement of the University sector (20.2% of the province's expenditure), while that sector accounted for 14.3% in Álava and 16.5% in Gipuzkoa.
Private resources funded 68.2% of internal expenditure on R&D by the business sector
The funding of R&D by private companies came to 68.2% in the Basque Country. By provinces, it accounted for 77.6% in Álava, 68.0% in Bizkaia and 65.6% in Gipuzkoa.
In terms of the total full-time R&D workforce, it increased in the three provinces with respect to 2008. There were 2,275 people working in R&D in Álava, 49.3% of whom were researchers, 7,676 in Bizkaia, 66.0% of whom were researchers, while Gipuzkoa employed 6,740 people, 62.2% of whom were researchers. In Álava, the smaller percentage of researchers was offset by a higher percentage of technicians (39.%) than in the other provinces.
In terms of the percentage of women involved in R&D activities, it stood at 35.9% in Álava, 35.8% in Bizkaia of the people employed, while this percentage was 31.4% in Gipuzkoa. Special mention should be made of the increase in the number of researchers in Álava, which rose from 32.6% in 2008 to 38.5% in 2009.
As in previous years, Engineering and Technology continued to be the scientific discipline with the greatest expenditure (69.7%) and which employed the most people in all three provinces (11,609). It is also important to point out that companies funded 84.7% of this discipline in the Basque Coutnry. This discipline stood out in the three provinces, although it was highest in Gipuzkoa, where Engineering and Technology accounted for 77.0% of expenditure on R&D and companies allocated 90.8% of its funds to this discipline. In Bizkaia, it accounted for 65.4% of expenditure and was 81.4% funded by companies, while expenditure in Álava was 63.4% and 77.9% was funded by companies.
48.6% of expenditure on R&D by the business sector in Álava was by small companies
Companies with less than 50 employees accounted for 30.6% of the expenditure on R&D in the business sector. This percentage rose to 48.6% in Álava, after a 5 percentage point increase with respect to 2008, which continued the upward trend of previous years. This type of companies accounted for 26.7% of the expenditure in Gipuzkoa and 31.0% in Bizkaia.
For further information:
Basque Statistics Office
C/ Donostia-San Sebastián, 1 01010 Vitoria-Gasteiz
Tel:+34-945-01 75 00 Fax:+34-945-01 75 01 E-mail: eustat@eustat.eus
Contact: Pilar Vázquez Sancho
Tel:+34-945-01 75 46 Fax:+34-945-01 75 01
Further press releases on Technological Development and Scientific Research Statistics
Technological Development and Scientific Research Statistics Databank