Press release 17/12/2024

STATISTICS FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY R&D. 2023

Expenditure on biotechnology R&D in the Basque Country rose to 184.7 million euros after increasing by 18.3% in 2023

There was a higher proportion of women employed in biotechnology R&D (60.2%)

Expenditure on internal R&D for activities related to biotechnology in the Basque Country in 2023 rose to 184.7 million euros, 18.3% more than in 2022, to become the highest expenditure in the historical series, according to Eustat data.

The 184.7 million euros spent on biotechnology in 2023 was an increase of 28.5 million euros on 2022 and more than double the 2007 allocation of 80.8 million euros (the first year of the available historical series).

Expenditure on biotechnology R&D represented 9.2% of total expenditure on internal R&D in 2023 and has 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 3,337, which represented 2,032 people in full-time equivalent jobs (FTE). This FTE biotechnology personnel increased by 16.8% compared to the previous year and represented 8.7% of FTE personnel dedicated to R+D. 1,461.3 people in FTE worked as researchers, which represented an increase of 15.0% compared to the previous year.

As was the case with expenditure, it should be noted that this data on FTE staff was the highest since the historical series began in 2007, easily doubling the 779 people that year.

Additionally, and as demonstrated in previous years, women were particularly noteworthy in this branch of R&D, as they represented 60.2% of total full-time staff employed in biotechnology in 2023.

A total of 104 entities, 99 of them companies, carried out research activities in biotechnology in 2023. Moreover, 78 of these 104 entities dedicated 100% of their internal R&D expenditure to biotechnology.

68.9% of expenditure on internal biotechnology R&D came from the Business sector

The highest percentage of total expenditure on internal biotechnology R&D (68.9%) was concentrated in the Business sector, a figure slightly lower than that of 2022 (69.3%).

The other sectors, Higher Education (23.4%) and Public Administration (7.7%), saw 31.1% of the remaining expenditure in 2023.

Public administration financed 47.5% of internal biotechnology R&D

According to the origin of the funds, internal R&D activities relating to biotechnology in 2023 were mainly financed with funds from the Public Administration (47.5%) and Businesses (39.4%). The remainder was financed with funds originating from Overseas (8.4%), Private Non-profit Institutions (2.9%) and Higher Education (1.8%).

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 77.0% of total expenditure. This was followed at some distance by Animal Health & Aquaculture and Food, with 6.9% and 6.4% respectively. The remaining 9.7% 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 2023, of particular note were Time/cost and Access to capital, with 94% and 91% respectively. In third place were regulatory requirements, with 88%.

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 2024, 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