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Published: 23 October 2008

Research and development expenditure increased by nearly EUR 500 million

Total expenditure on research and development rose in Finland to good EUR 6.2 billion in 2007. The growth in real terms that exceeded five per cent was the fastest since the turn of the millennium. R&D expenditure grew by over EUR 400 million in the business enterprise sector and by almost EUR 90 million even in the higher education sector. By contrast, approximately EUR 10 million less R&D expenditure than in the previous year was recorded in statistics for the public sector, even though some R&D activities of the local government sector were also included this time.

R&D expenditure in the business enterprise sector reached EUR 4.5 billion. Over EUR 2.5 billion of this were spent on electronics and electrical products. The electronics industry increased its R&D spending by EUR 230 million. Good growth figures were also achieved in many other industries. In manufacturing, R&D expenditure went up by over EUR 40 million in both the chemical industry and the metal and engineering industry. Among other industries R&D expenditure grew by nearly EUR 70 million in computer and related activities. In financial intermediation (banks and insurance companies), now included as a new industry in the statistics, R&D expenditure amounted to EUR 35 million. A subject of special examination was R&D expenditure on biotechnology on which enterprises spent EUR 110 million. In 2003, the respective figure was EUR 85 million.

Expenditure on R&D is estimated to go up by approximately EUR 200 million in 2008. However, its GDP share is expected to contract by one-tenth of a percentage point from the 3.5 per cent level where it has stood for the past few years.

R&D expenditure by sector and GDP share of R&D expenditure in 2001-2007 and estimate for 2008

Year	Business enterprises		Public sector***		Higher education sector		Total	GDP share of R&D expenditure**
	EUR million €	%	EUR million €	%	EUR million €	%	EUR million €	%
2001	3,284.0	71.1	500.9	10.8	834.1	18.1	4,619.0	3.30
2002	3,375.1	69.9	529.7	11.0	925.6	19.2	4,830.3	3.35
2003	3,527.9	70.5	515.4	10.3	961.7	19.2	5,005.0	3.43
2004	3,683.5	70.1	530.1	10.1	1,039.8	19.8	5,253.4	3.45
2005	3,876.9	70.8	554.7	10.1	1,042.1	19.0	5,473.8	3.48
2006	4,107.8	71.3	574.2	10.0	1,079.2	18.7	5,761.2	3.45
2007	4,513.4	72.3	564.7	9.0	1,164.6	18.7	6,242.7	3.47
2008*	4,661.3	72.3	559.5	8.7	1,225.2	19.0	6,446.0	3.37

* Estimate based on survey responses and other calculations
** GDP 2006 and 2007 preliminary data of Statistics Finland, GDP 2008 forecast by the Ministry of Finance
*** Incl. PNP (private non-profit sector)

Source: Research and development 2007, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Mr Tero Luhtala +358 9 1734 3327, Mr Markku Virtaharju +358 9 1734 3290, tiede.teknologia@stat.fi

Acting Director in charge: Mr Matti Parkkinen

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Appendix tables

• Business enterprises: R&D personnel, person-years and expenditure by industry and size of enterprise in 2007 (Excel) (23.10.2008)

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Last updated 23.10.2008