The Research and Innovation Careers Observatory (ReICO) is a joint initiative of the European Commission and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). This initiative, mainly funded by the European Commission, is a response to the need for reliable data on research careers, as outlined in the Council Recommendation on a European framework to attract and retain research, innovation, and entrepreneurial talents in Europe.
ReICO aims to provide reliable evidence on talent and careers in research and innovation, bridging the policy and evidence gap in this field. It serves as a comprehensive access point for international statistics, analytical tools, and resources focused on research and innovation careers. It tracks and analyses trends in R&I talent development, employment, and mobility in EU and OECD countries, as well as other economies. Its ultimate purpose is to monitor three dimensions of research and innovation careers: skills and training, jobs & careers, and geographical mobility.
ReICO offers a range of benefits to decision-makers, including the creation of dashboards with standardised statistical indicators. The observatory also provides valuable insights into the R&I workforce, including data on participation across education levels and employment conditions.
For more information on ReICO, please visit the Research and Innovation Careers Observatory (ReICO).
Below is a selected collection of figures and data from the Observatory.
Total number of researchers in EU27, measured in full time equivalent (FTE)
The population of researchers in the EU has doubled over the last two decades, leading to a significant increase in the presence and weight of researchers in the total employed population. The rate of researchers per thousand employment was equivalent in the EU and OCDE average in 2022 (9.7) and close to the rate registered in the United States (10.5).
Researchers per thousand employment, FTE, international comparison
Doctoral enrolment index in the EU
The EU also registers a general increasing trend in doctoral enrolment. The EU doctoral enrolment index (2015 = 100) registered a value of 112 in 2022 compared to 89.4 accounted for the United States that same year. Trends registered in China are also worth mentioning. Despite a significantly lower proportion of researchers in the population compared to OECD countries, China is experiencing a remarkable increase in doctoral enrolment.
Distribution of researchers by employment sector in the EU
The relative distribution of research employment has evolved in the EU over the last two decades. The business enterprise sector employed in 2023 56.3% of researchers compared to 46.8% in 2003. In contrast, the higher education and government sectors are losing proportional weight in the distribution of research employment. In absolute terms, however, the total number of employed researchers in the higher education sector is also registering an increasing trend considering the overall increase of the number of researchers in the population.
Mobile doctoral graduates, % of doctoral graduates
The EU is experiencing an increase in the rate of foreign born among its doctoral graduates which has gone from 20% to 24% over the last decade. This rate remains however substantially below other major attracting poles for doctoral education like the United Kingdom and Australia (with rates over 40%) or the United States.
Net flows of international scientific authors
The indicator measuring the net flows of scientific authors shows a remarkable positive evolution for the EU, which has gone from a net loss of more than 4000 authors registered in 2015, to a net inflow of 4,491 in 2025. In the international context, the evolution of the EU contrasts substantially with that other major economies and scientific poles.
Gender indicators
The indicators on gender available at EU27 level show a considerable level of balance attained at the entry level of the research career. Women doctorate graduates account for more than 50% of total doctoral graduates and they register a high employment rate (91.7%), slightly below the overall population’s (93.8% in 2023). Indicators of doctoral graduation in STEM and presence amongst the foreign-born doctoral degree holder population are also close to gender balance levels.
ReICO is a six-year project that will evolve over time, integrating additional content and activities. The observatory is hosted by the OECD and is supported by a network of national contact points and an expert advisory group.