Eurostat reports 22% increase in per capita R&D investment by governments since 2010

In 2020, member states allocated a total €100.8 billion for R&D, equivalent to 0.8% of the EU’s gross domestic product, according to data published by Eurostat today.

Spending per head on R&D was €225 per person, a 22% increase compared to 2010, when it was €184 per person. The highest per head spending was in Luxembourg, at €648, followed at a distance by Denmark on €519 and Germany, €443 per head.

EU countries with the lowest levels of public investment were Romania, at €15 per person, Bulgaria €21, Hungary €39 and Latvia €4.

Since 2010, government R&D spending per capita grew fastest in Latvia, from €14 in 2010 to €42 in 2020, Greece, where it increased from €62 to €148 and Estonia and where it rose from €77 to €141.

Allocations decreased in Portugal, Spain, Romania, France, Ireland and Finland.