Press release 23/07/2025
STATISTICS ON SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT - R&D ACTIVITIES. Advance 2024
Expenditure on internal R&D in the Basque Country increased by 5.0% in 2024
Personnel in full-time equivalent positions rose by 4.6%
In 2024, expenditure on internal Scientific Research and Technological Development activities (R&D) increased by 5.0% in the Basque Country, according to provisional data provided by Eustat. Total personnel in full-time equivalent positions in R&D increased by 4.6%.
By implementation sector, companies increased internal expenditure by 4.2%, and personnel for R&D activities by 4.9%. In Higher Education, expenditure rose by 6.5% and R&D personnel by 2.0%. Lastly, in the Public Administration sector, 9.6% growth was reported in expenditure and 11.1% in R&D personnel.
In the most recent comparable data (2023), expenditure on internal R&D in relation to GDP in the Basque Country reached 2.16%, while in Spain it was 1.49%.
Variation in R&D Expenditure and Full Time R&D Personnel by sector of execution. Basque Country. Advance. 2024
| |
2024/2023 Increase (%) |
| |
R&D expenditure |
FTE (Full-time) personnel |
| Total |
5.0 |
4.6 |
| |
| Companies and IPSLF |
4.2 |
4.9 |
| Public Administration |
9.6 |
11.1 |
| Higher Education Sector |
6.5 |
2.0 |
Date July 23, 2025
Source: Eustat. Statistics on scientific research and technological development activities
Methodological note: Eustat has produced Advance Data on the evolution of R&D personnel and expenditure in 2024. In order to do this, companies, Higher Education bodies and public administration which together represent 87.4% of the total expenditure obtained the previous year have been taken into account, allowing an advance of the results that will be presented definitively in November this year to be brought forward to July 2025.
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