Eurostat widens scope of R&D analysis

Brussels, 09 Sep 2003

The Eurostat unit for research and development, methods and data analyses has released its latest publication on the situation of research and development (R&D) in Europe, an unprecedented collection of indicators and data that stretches beyond the scope of previous analyses.

Statistics on Science Technology 2003 presents the latest developments in the field of research and development expenditure, personnel, and government R&D appropriations. However, in response to developments in the policy and scientific communities, the publication also includes some additional information on the relevant indicators as compared to the previous edition.

These include data and trends not only for patent applications to the European Patent office, but also for patents granted by the United States Patent and Trustmarks office (USPTO). In providing a wider collection of information, the publication reveals some interesting trends with regard to patenting applications in the US.

For example, the report shows that the number of patents granted by the USPTO to EU inventors has been growing in all Member States, especially during the second half of the 1990s, with Sweden, Germany and Luxembourg taking the lead. Similarly, patents granted to the US and Japan by the EPO have also increased.

The publication also provides additional data on R&D personnel in the European Union and beyond. It reveals an optimistic trend, namely that the number of people working in R&D related activities has increased in the EU. In 2001 there were 1.8 million people in full-time employment, which represented 1.41 per cent of the EU's labour force - a figure slightly higher than the corresponding 1.38 per cent in 2000.

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