Research and development (R&D) in Sweden:
R&D expenditure increased in 2015
Statistical news from Statistics Sweden 2016-12-16 9.30
Sweden’s expenditure on research and development (R&D) amounted to SEK 137 billion in 2015. R&D expenditure has increased by SEK 7 billion since 2013, in constant 2015 prices. The R&D share of the GDP was 3.28 percent in 2015, compared with 3.31 percent in 2013.
The business enterprise sector and the higher education sector both increased their expenditures on R&D compared with 2013, whereas in the same comparison, R&D expenditure decreased modestly in the government sector and the private non-profit sector. The business enterprise sector had the largest R&D expenditure, SEK 95 billion, corresponding to 70 percent of Sweden’s total R&D expenditure. The higher education sector had the second largest R&D expenditure, amounting to SEK 37 billion, or 27 percent of total R&D expenditure in 2015. The share of R&D expenditure in the government sector was 3 percent, while R&D in the private non-profit sector accounted for less than one percent of Swedish R&D expenditure.
R&D expenditure highest in metropolitan counties
The majority of Swedish R&D is carried out in Stockholm, Västra Götaland and Skåne counties. R&D expenditure in these counties amounted to SEK 96 billion, which represents 71 percent of total R&D in Sweden.
Most person-years in R&D carried out by men
In 2015, the number of person-years (full-time equivalents) carried out in Sweden amounted to about 81 700. Seventy percent were carried out in the business enterprise sector and 25 percent were carried out in the higher education sector. The majority of R&D person-years in all sectors was performed by men, except in government authorities, county councils, municipalities and the private non-profit sector. In 2015, about 75 percent of R&D person-years in the business enterprise sector were carried out by men and 25 percent were carried out by women. In the higher education sector, men performed 55 percent of R&D person-years, while women accounted for 45 percent.
| Women, % | Men, % | Full time equivalents | |
|---|---|---|---|
Business enterprise sector |
25 | 75 | 57 285 |
Higher education sector |
45 | 55 | 20 035 |
Government authorities |
38 | 62 | 2 301 |
County councils and municipalities |
58 | 42 | 1 939 |
Private non-profit sector |
50 | 50 | 191 |
Definitions and explanations
Intramural R&D
Activities carried out in Sweden by the organisation’s own personnel, or by consultants in an R&D project led by the organisation, where the organisation’s personnel have worked together with consultants. Intramural R&D includes R&D assigned by other parties.
R&D Expenditure
R&D expenditure includes current expenditure and investments for intramural R&D. Current expenditure refers to labour costs, consultant fees, and other current expenditures. Investments include Buildings, land and real estate, Machinery and equipment, and Software.
Person-year
A person-year is the work that one full-time employee does in one year. A full-time employee that spends half of their time on R&D in a year has therefore carried out 0.5 R&D person-years.
Publication
A more detailed report of this survey will be published in a Statistical Report on 2017-05-04.
Feel free to use the facts from this statistical news but remember to state Source: Statistics Sweden.