Sweden at head of pack on digital research funding

While Sweden may be a global leader in R&D investment, the EU as a whole is still lagging behind the Japan and the US: new data shows that 6.6% of the total R&D government support is invested in ICT in the EU, compared to 9.1% in Japan and 7.9% in the US.

Figures from the Digital Scorecard show that more efforts are necessary to meet the goal set by the Digital Agenda for Europe: to reach €11 billion of annual total public spending on ICT R&D by 2020.

Vice-President of the European Commission Neelie Kroes, responsible for the Digital Agenda, says: "Public funding in digital research and development is behind many of the great technologies we take for granted. Helping researchers develop their best ideas translates into new products and services, and into jobs. Over the next seven years, through Horizon 2020 we will invest more than €13bn in ICT. I encourage member states to step up their efforts to secure our jobs of the future".

EU research leaders

Total public spending: Germany spends €1.2bn annually on ICT R&D

The 5 biggest public funders of R&D in ICT in 2012: Germany takes by far the lead with €1.2bn followed by the UK (€0.69bn - €11 per person), Spain (€0.6bn- €13 per person). Sweden is next on €0.55bn.

Relative public spending: Sweden spends most per person

Sweden spends far more than any other EU country on a per capita basis, at €58 per person. Sweden spends more than Italy (€0.52bn), yet Italy has 6 times the population (60 million to 9.5 million).

Most ICT–intensive spending – Swedish and European Commission

Sweden and Belgium are investing the most heavily in ICT (15% and 11% of total spend respectively). The European Commission spends 16% of its research budget on ICT research. Around €13bn of the Commission’s Horizon 2020 research programme (2014-2020) #Horizon2020 will go to ICT projects over a seven-year period.

Most EU funding: Germany and United Kingdom

Universities, companies and researchers in Germany (€1.6bn), the UK (€1bn), Italy (€0.8bn), France (€0.7bn) and Spain (€0.6bn) receive 60% of the total EU funding and account for 57% of participations during the period 2007-2013.

Examples of projects with German, British, Italian, French, Spanish partners.

Highest EU funding relative to ICT sector: Cyprus and Greece

Cyprus (€24 million) and Greece (€339 million) have relatively small ICT sectors which are growing thanks to relatively high EU funding levels. Examples of projects with Cypriot, Greek partners.

Other top facts:

• Higher education receives account for 57% of EU ICT research participation

• StartUps, small and medium businesses account for 16% of participations. Examples of projects with higher education institutions, research organizations and SMEs.

• SMEs do best in language technology projects (over 30% of participations)

• SMEs do best in Estonia (42%), Slovakia (34%) and Bulgaria (33%). Examples of projects with Estonian, Slovakian, Bulgarian partners.

Share this article: