Definitive results of the Survey on the National Scientific and Technological Potential (IPCTN) 2021

The final results of the Survey on National Scientific and Technological Potential (IPCTN) for 2021 were released last December 22 and reveal that Portugal reached 3,609 million euros of total expenditure on R&D (Research & Development) activities, equivalent to 1.68% of national GDP and representing a 12% growth compared to 2020. These definitive results show the increase for the sixth consecutive year in R&D expenditure.

Compared to 2020, R&D expenditure increased in all sectors of execution, but with greater expression in the business sector, which grew by 16.8% in 2021, a sector responsible for the execution of 2,154 million euros, representing 60% of total national R&D expenditure and 1% of GDP.

The Private Non-Profit Institutions (IPSFL) registered an increase of €16 million (+23.8%); the Higher Education sector €37 million (+3.2%); and the State sector €10 million (+6.1%).

The total number of people performing R&D activities in Portugal rose from 66,044 in 2020 to 69,769 (Full-Time Equivalent FTE) in 2021 (+5.6%). Of these human resources, 56 365 people were Researchers, an increase of 6% compared to 2020. Higher Education concentrates a large part of researchers with 28 846 FTE (51% of the national total of researchers), and in the business sector, 24 788 FTE (44%).

These figures are revealed by the final data from the Survey on National Scientific and Technological Potential (IPCTN) for 2021, published by the Directorate General of Education and Science Statistics (DGEEC), based on methodologies internationally harmonized by EUROSTAT and OECD.

The Survey on National Scientific and Technological Potential (IPCTN) is an annual census operation since 2007 (it was biennial since 1982), which is the basis for official statistical information on human and financial resources devoted to R&D activities in Portugal.