R&D investment grows 10% in 2021 and reaches 3,565 million euros

The provisional results of the 2021 Survey on the National Scientific and Technological Potential (IPCTN) reveal that Research & Development (R&D) expenditure in Portugal reached 1.69% of GDP, at 3,565 million euros, representing a 10% growth compared to 2020.

Compared to 2020, R&D activities increased in all sectors, with companies showing the most significant growth (+14.5%), representing 59% of national expenditure on R&D and 1% of GDP. Higher Education also shows an increase (+3.4%), accounting for 34% of expenditure. In the State, the increase corresponds to +3.3%, which represents 5% of expenditure.

Regarding the total number of people performing R&D activities (i.e., total researchers, technicians and other professionals) in Portugal in 2021, there is an increase (+5%) compared to 2020, with 69,628 people in FTE (Full Time Equivalent). Of these, 56,202 are researchers, a 6% increase 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) concentrate most of the country's researchers.

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

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

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