Statistical Yearbook: Research spending down
Spending on research and development (R&D) decreased by 14 percent in 2013, compared to the previous year, Statistics Estonia said in its freshly released yearbook.
The main factor in the drop came from the fuel industry, where great investments were made between 2010-2012, the yearbook said.
Private sector investments into R&D peaked in 2011 when 242.8 million euros was invested, more than double the 2010 and triple the 2009 figures. Private sector R&D costs amounted to only 155.6 million euros in 2013. The figures for 2014 are yet to be published.
The research and development steps made between 2010-2012 allowed companies to construct factories using new technology and begin production.
Higher education R&D costs have remained fairly stable, peaking at 137.9 million euros in 2013. The corresponding figure for 2014 was 127 million euros.
The number of people involved with R&D who have a PhD jumped from 2,580 to 3,288 between 2007-2013. The highest number of scientists work in natural sciences (around 1,800), around a 1,000 scientists are working in humanities and a similar figure in social sciences, while fewer are employed in engineering (860) and medicine (650).
Statistics Estonia released its 2014 yearbook this week. The 450-page book is available in English online for free.
Editor: J.M. Laats