Budget appropriations for R&D continue to increase

Statistics Sweden’s forecast for R&D funds in the government budget shows that appropriations for R&D increased for the second year. The total R&D funding in the 2009 Government budget approaches 3.7 percent of the total budget, compared to 3.3 percent in 2008.

In total the R&D funds amount to SEK 28 270 million. Measured in fixed prices of 2009, the increase is approximately SEK 2.4 billion, an increase of 8 percent compared to 2008.

Total appropriations and appropriations for R&D funds in the Government budget for 2008 and 2009. SEK millions, current price and price level of 2009

	Current prices		Price level of 2009		R&D share, %
Year	Total appro-priations	R&D funds	Total appro-priations	R&D funds	R&D share, %
2008	766 276	25 594	774 414	25 866	3.3
2009	768 819	28 270	768 819	28 270	3.7

It is the large recipients of R&D funding that are receiveing increased appropriations. Among these are higher education units, research councils and the Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems. In total the large recipients gets SEK 20.3 billion worth of R&D funding, compared to slightly less than SEK 18 billion in 2008. R&D funds directed towards the different defence authorities continue to decrease; this year by SEK 770 million.

R&D appropriations by recipient 2008 and 2009, SEK millions, current prices and price level of 2009

Recipient	2008	2009
Total	25 866	28 270
Higher education sector	11 644	13 270
Swedish Research Council	3 631	4 029
Defence authorities	3 125	2 355
Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovations Systems	1 829	1 846
Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning	733	849
Swedish Research Council for Working Life and Social Research	346	392
Other civil authorities	4 559	5 518
International organizations	-	10

The use of R&D funds

The R&D appropriations are also divided among socioeconomic objectives. About two thirds, SEK 19.1 billion have the objective ” general advancement of knowledge”. This figure includes all the R&D funds intended for universities. It also includes the main part of R&D funding for the National science council.

Appropriations for R&D in 2008 by socioeconomic objectives, SEK million

Socioeconomic objectives	2008	2009
Total	25 866	28 270
General advancement of knowledge	17 281	19 127
Defence	3 214	2 368
Mining, trade and industry	1 473	1 218
Production and distribution of energy	916	1 201
Transport and telecommunications	909	1 445
Other objectives	2 074	2 911