Total R & D expenditure in Cyprus in 2011 is estimated at €88,9 mn which corresponds to 0,49% of the Gross Domestic Product, compared to €86,2 mn or 0,50% of the GDP in 2010 and €83,0 mn or 0,49% in 2009.
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), the share of the GDP of Cyprus devoted to R & D activities continues to be low compared to the average for the member-states of the European Union (2%). Cyprus compares with countries such as Romania (0,48%) and Bulgaria (0,57%), while the highest shares are recorded for Sweden (3,37%) and Finland (3,78%).
By sector of performance, the higher education institutions accounted for €47,5 mn or 53,4% of total R & D expenditure, the government for €14,7 mn or 16,6%, the private non-profit institutions for €13,9 mn or 15,6% and the business enterprises for €12,8 mn or 14,4%. In the business enterprise sector, the manufacturing industry (and particularly the manufacturers of basic pharmaceutical products and preparations) constituted the principal source of R & D activity, with a total R & D expenditure of €4,2 mn, while of importance was also the contribution of computer programming, consultancy and related activities with €4,0 mn.
The biggest part of R & D expenditure was devoted to the natural sciences (€34,7 mn), while engineering and technology absorbed €19,5 mn, the social sciences €15,0 mn, the agricultural sciences €9,3 mn, the humanities €6,7 mn and the medical sciences €3,7 mn.
About 43,9% of R & D activity in 2011 was financed from government funds (€39,0 mn), as compared with €37,0 mn or 42,9% in 2010, while €23,8 mn was drawn from the budget of public universities and €12,5 mn from sources from abroad (including €10,9 mn from European Union funds). An amount of €13,6 mn constituted the contribution of the private sector, compared to €14,4 mn in 2010.
The number of persons engaged in R & D activities in 2011 stood at 2.788, compared to 2.628 in 2010. In full-time equivalent terms, this number is estimated at 1.297 persons, of which 530 or 40,9% were women. Of these persons, 37,2% were holders of PhD level degrees.
