Press Release 14/12/2023
STATISTICS FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY R&D. 2022
Expenditure on biotechnology R&D in the Basque Country increased by 9.8% in 2022 and stood at 156.2 million euros, the highest ever recorded
Human health research represented three quarters of expenditure on biotechnology
Expenditure on internal R&D for activities related to biotechnology in the Basque Country in 2022 rose to 156.2 million euros, 9.8% more than in 2021, to become the highest expenditure in the historical series, according to Eustat data.
The 156.2 million euros spent on biotechnology in 2022 was an increase of 14 million euros on 2021 and almost double the 2007 allocation of 80.8 million euros (the first year of the available historical series), or to give a more recent example, the 2016 allocation of 84.7 million euros.
Expenditure on biotechnology R&D represented 8.7% of total expenditure on internal R&D in 2022 and has slowly but surely become increasingly prominent in terms of total R&D expenditure in recent years. Thus, in 2015 it accounted for 6.7% of the total, 7.9% in 2018 and 8.5% in 2020.
The number of employed personnel stood at 2,715, which represented 1,740 people in full-time equivalent jobs (FTE). This FTE biotechnology personnel increased by 4.4% compared to the previous year and represented 8.0% of FTE personnel dedicated to R+D. 1,271 people in FTE worked as researchers, which represented an increase of 2.1% compared to the previous year.
Evolution of expenditure and personnel (EFT) in internal R&D in biotechnology within the Basque Country. 2012-2022
| | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
| Internal R&D | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Total (thousands of euros) | 85.646 | 92.042 | 86.677 | 85.691 | 84.690 | 93.221 | 112.534 | 123.354 | 126.610 | 142.198 | 156.183 |
| Annual increase (%) | -0,3 | 7,5 | -5,8 | -1,1 | -1,2 | 10,1 | 20,7 | 9,6 | 2,6 | 12,3 | 9,8 |
| Personnel (F.T.E.) | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Total | 1.081,8 | 1.182,9 | 1.183,7 | 1.255,5 | 1.234,8 | 1.345,5 | 1.442,1 | 1.472,7 | 1.521,5 | 1.666,5 | 1.739,5 |
| Annual increase (%) | 4,7 | 9,3 | 0,1 | 6,1 | -1,6 | 9,0 | 7,2 | 2,1 | 3,3 | 9,5 | 4,4 |
| Research personnel (FTE) | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Total | 809,8 | 903,3 | 909,3 | 977,0 | 964,5 | 1.031,0 | 1.087,7 | 1.106,7 | 1.141,0 | 1.244,9 | 1.270,5 |
| Annual increase (%) | 7,6 | 11,5 | 0,7 | 7,4 | -1,3 | 6,9 | 5,5 | 1,7 | 3,1 | 9,1 | 2,1 |
F.T.E.= full time equivalent
Date December 14, 2023
Source: Eustat. Statistics for R&D in biotechnology
It should be noted that FTE personnel data was the highest of the historical series begun in 2007, even higher than expenditure data. Indeed, the number of FTE personnel in 2022 was double that of 2007 (779 more people), although it increased more gradually during this period than expenditure.
Additionally, and as demonstrated in previous years, women were particularly noteworthy in this branch of R&D, as they represented 59.8% of total full-time staff employed in biotechnology in 2022.
A total of 100 entities, 95 of them companies, carried out research activities in biotechnology in 2022. Moreover, 72 of these 100 entities dedicated 100% of their internal R&D expenditure to biotechnology.
69.3% of expenditure on internal biotechnology R&D came from the Business sector
The highest percentage of total expenditure on internal biotechnology R&D (69.3%) was concentrated in the Business sector, a figure slightly higher than that of 2021 (68.6%).
The other sectors, Higher Education (24.5%) and Public Administration (6.2%), saw 30.7% of the remaining expenditure in 2022.
Public administration financed 52.3% of internal biotechnology R&D
According to the origin of the funds, internal R&D activities relating to biotechnology in 2022 were mainly financed with funds from the Public Administration, 52.3%, and Businesses, 37.5%. The remainder was financed via funds originating from Overseas (7.8%), Higher Education (1.9%) and Private Non-Profit Institutions (0.5%).
Human health research represented three quarters of expenditure on biotechnology
As regards the areas of application for the products obtained as a result of biotechnology research, of particular note was Human Health with 75.5% of total expenditure. This was followed at some distance by Food and Animal Health & Aquaculture, with 8.9% and 6.0%, respectively. The remaining 9.6% was divided in similar percentages between the other areas: Agriculture & Forestry Production, Environment and Industry.
Time/cost and Access to capital stood out as the main obstacles for carrying out internal R&D activities in biotechnology
Finally, in the perception of the main obstacles inhibiting the advancement of biotechnology R&D activities in 2022, of particular note were Time/cost and Access to capital, with 92% and 88%, respectively. In third place were regulatory requirements, with 86%.
Note:
Eustat would like to thank all the companies and institutions that have collaborated in preparing this survey, the information for which was gathered between April and October 2023, for their efforts. Without their collaboration it would not have been possible.
For further information:
Eustat - Euskal Estatistika Erakundea / Basque Statistics Institute
C/ Donostia-San Sebastián, 1 01010 Vitoria-Gasteiz
Press Service: servicioprensa@eustat.es Tel.: 945 01 75 62