Cyprus R & D research inches up in 2009

Expenditure on research and development inched up in 2009 according to the latest provisional estimates of the Statistical Service.
Total research and development (R & D) expenditure is estimated at EUR 83.3 mln, or 0.49% of GDP, up from the EUR 73.4 mln or 0.42% of GDP in 2008 and EUR 70.1 mln or 0.44% in 2007.
The Statistical Service noted that expenditure on R & D activity continues to be low compared with the EU average of 2.01%.
Cyprus is on a par with the other new EU member states such as Latvia (0.46%), Romania (0.47%), Slovakia (0.48%), Bulgaria (0.53%) and Malta (0.54%).
The highest shares are recorded for Sweden (3.62%) and Finland (3.96%).
By sector, higher education institutions accounted for EUR 38.3 mln or 46.0% of total R & D expenditure, business enterprises for EUR 17.2 mln or 20.6%, the government for EUR 16.9 mln (20.3%) and private non-profit institutions for EUR 10.9 mln or 13.1%.
In full-time equivalent terms, the number of persons engaged in R & D activities in 2009 is estimated at 1,206 persons, of which 835 were researchers.