Cyprus R&D expenditure inches up

Cyprus may remain among the lowest spenders on R&D in Europe, but spending on R&D is slowly inching upwards.

On the basis of the results of the ad-hoc survey carried out by the Statistical Service for the collection of data on scientific research and experimental development (R&D). total R&D expenditure in Cyprus in 2004 is estimated at CYP 27.2 mln.

This corresponds to 0.38% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), compared with CYP 23.9 mln or 0.35% of GDP in 2003 and CYP 19.4 mln or 0.31% in 2002.

Despite the increase of 13.7% recorded in R&D expenditure in 2004 relative to 2003, the share of the GDP of Cyprus devoted to R&D activities continues to be low compared with other countries.

For example, the share of R&D expenditure to the GDP of the member states of the European Union stands at 1.9% on average.

By sector of performance, the government accounted for CYP 9.8 mln or 36.1% of total R&D expenditure.

The higher education institutions accounted for CYP 9.6 mln or 35.2%, business enterprises for CYP 5.8 mln or 21.3% and private non-profit institutions for CYP 2.0 mln or 7.4%.

 

Computers, chemicals, food dominate private R&D

 

In the business enterprise sector, computer and related activities constituted the principal source of R&D activity, with a total R&D expenditure of CYP 2.3 mln. while of particular importance was also the contribution of the manufacturing industry (and particularly the branches of chemical products and food products and beverages) with CYP 2.0 mln.

The biggest part of R&D expenditure was devoted to the natural sciences (CYP 10.9 mln), while the agricultural sciences absorbed CYP 4.4 mln, the social sciences CYP 4.3 mln, engineering and technology CYP 4.1 mln, the humanities CYP 2.4 mln and the medical sciences CYP 1.1 mln.

About 43.4% of R&D activity in 2004 was financed from government funds (CYP 11.8 mln), as compared with CYP 9.9 mln or 41.2% in 2003.

At the same time, CYP 5.5 mln was drawn from the budget of the University of Cyprus and CYP 3.1 mln from sources from abroad (including CYP 2.2 mln from European Union funds).

The contribution of the private sector amounted to CYP 6.7 mln, compared with CYP 6.2 mln in 2003.

The number of persons engaged in R&D activities in 2004 rose to 2,235, compared with 2,102 in 2003.

In full-time equivalent terms, this number is estimated at 1,017 persons, of which 397 or 39.0% were women.

Of these persons, 26.1% were holders of PhD level degrees.