Investment in R&D grows 10% in 2021, reaching €3.565 billion

The provisional results of the 2021 National Scientific and Technological Potential Survey (IPCTN) reveal that expenditure on Research & Development (R&D) in Portugal reached 1.69% of GDP, amounting to €3.565 billion, representing a 10% increase compared to 2020.

Looking at 2020, R&D activities increased in all sectors, with companies recording the most significant growth (+14.5%), representing 59% of national R&D expenditure and 1% of GDP. Higher education also saw an increase (+3.4%), accounting for 34% of expenditure. In the public sector, the increase was +3.3%, representing 5% of expenditure.

Regarding the total number of people engaged in R&D activities (i.e., total number of researchers, technicians, and other professionals) in Portugal in 2021, there was an increase (+5%) compared to 2020, with 69,628 people in FTE (Full-Time Equivalent). Of these, 56,202 work as researchers, an increase of 6% over the previous year. The higher education sector (28,864 FTE | 51% of the national total of researchers) and the business sector (24,617 FTE | 44% of the national total of researchers) account for the majority of researchers in the country.

The total number of human resources engaged in R&D activities in 2021 reaches 12.7 persons (FTE) per thousand active inhabitants.

Provisional data from the 2021 IPCTN are published by the Directorate-General for Education and Science Statistics (DGEEC), based on methodologies harmonized internationally by EUROSTAT and the OECD.

The IPCTN is a census operation, conducted annually since 2007 (it was biennial since 1982), which constitutes the basis for official statistical information on human and financial resources allocated to R&D activities in Portugal. The final data will be disclosed in due course by the DGEEC after final validation of all the results of this statistical operation.