Investment in R&D reaches €2.987 billion in 2019

Provisional results from the National Scientific and Technological Potential Survey (IPCTN19) reveal that last year saw the highest ever investment in Research and Development (R&D) in Portugal. Total expenditure on R&D activities reached €2.987 billion, €218 million more than in 2018, representing 1.41% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This is the highest figure ever for investment in R&D in Portugal.

This increase in investment is particularly significant in the business sector, which grew by 10% between 2018 and 2019, representing 0.74% of GDP in 2019. These figures reinforce the trend of growth in business R&D, which is reflected in the growth of skilled employment in companies and in the private sector's efforts to keep pace with scientific development and technological capacity in Portugal.

Higher education also increased its investment in R&D, growing by around 5% in 2019 and also reaching a new high of €1,209 million.

Another important element in characterizing the scientific and technological system is the number of researchers in the active population, which has also grown. In 2019, there were 10 researchers per thousand active people, compared to 9.1 per thousand in 2018, 8.6 in 2017, and 8 in 2016.

In total, 50,431 full-time equivalent (FTE) researchers were registered, 2,779 more than in 2018, reflecting an increase of 11,759 FTE researchers since 2015, i.e., a 30% increase over the last four years. In higher education, there are 29,027 FTE researchers, representing 58% of the total, while companies include 19,283 FTE researchers, representing 38% of the total. The number of researchers in companies increased by 2,537 FTE, representing a 15% increase between 2018 and 2019.

In the public sector (which includes state laboratories), there were 1,591 researchers in ETI last year, accounting for 3% of the total.

The total number of human resources involved in research and development activities (researchers, technicians, and other professionals) is 12 people (FTE) per thousand active inhabitants.

The provisional results of IPCTN19 are published by the Directorate-General for Education and Science Statistics (DGEEC) based on methodologies harmonized internationally by EUROSTAT and the OECD.

Graph: source MCTES