1.1. Contact organisation
Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic
1.2. Contact organisation unit
Cross-sectional Statistics Department
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic
Lamačská cesta 3/C
P. O. Box 67
840 00 Bratislava 4
Slovakia
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
31 October 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
31 October 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
31 October 2025
3.1. Data description
Statistics on Government Budget Allocations for R&D (GBARD) measure government support to research and development (R&D) activities, and thereby provide information about the priority governments give to different public R&D funding activities. This type of funder-based approach for reporting R&D involves identifying all the budget items that may support R&D activities and measuring or estimating their R&D content.
Main concepts and definitions used for the production of R&D statistics are given by the OECD (2015), Frascati Manual 2015: Guidelines for Collecting and Reporting Data on Research and Experimental Development, The Measurement of Scientific, Technological and Innovation Activities (FM 2015, Chapter 12), which is the internationally recognised standard methodology for collecting R&D statistics and by Eurostat’s European Business Statistics Methodological Manual on R&D Statistics (EBS Methodological Manual on R&D Statistics).
Since the beginning of 2021, the collection of R&D statistics is based on Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2020/1197 of 30 July 2020.
The Regulation sets the framework for the collection of R&D statistics and specifies the main variables of interest and their breakdowns at predefined level of detail (Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197 of 30 July 2020 laying down technical specifications and arrangements pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council on European business statistics repealing 10 legal acts in the field of business statistics (europa.eu)).
Statistics on science, technology and innovation were collected until the end of 2020 based on Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2012/995 concerning the production and development of Community statistics on science and technology.
3.2. Classification system
Distribution by socioeconomic objectives (SEO) is based on the Nomenclature for the Analysis and Comparisons of Scientific Programmes and Budgets (NABS) at one digit level.
3.2.1. National classification
| National nomenclature of SEO used | State budget is structured according to the COFOG classification. There are some differences in SEO used in COFOG and in NABS. Objectives - Exploration and exploitation of the Earth- Exploration and exploitation of Space are not separately available. They are included in other objectives, mainly in Basic research. For GBARD statistics they are separated according to the purpose of programmes or projects. |
|---|---|
| Correspondence table with NABS | Correspondence table at chapter level between NABS and COFOG is provided in the Annex. |
Annexes:
Correspondence table NABS-COFOG in GBARD statistics in Slovakia
3.2.2. NABS classification
| Deviations from NABS | SEO12 and SEO13, they are both in chapter Basic research in the used national nomenclature of SEO. |
|---|---|
| Problems in identifying / separating NABS chapters and sub chapters | SEO1 and SEO3 are not separately available, they have to be separated from the category Basic research according to the purpose of programmes or projects. |
| Ability to distribute Non-oriented research and General University Funds (GUF) by fields of R&D | YES. |
3.3. Coverage - sector
See below.
3.3.1. General coverage
| Definition of R&D | Frascati manual methodology is used for identifying R&D. R&D covers three activities: basic research, applied research and experimental development. |
|---|---|
| Coverage of R&D or S&T in general | Since 2002, GBARD data measure R&D. |
| Fields of R&D (FORD) covered | All fields are included, NSE+SSH. |
| Socioeconomic objective (SEO by NABS) | SEO by NABS at chapter level. NABS 12 and NABS 13 at subchapter level. |
3.3.2. Definition and coverage of government
GBARD statistics are assumed to report detailed data on all the government's budget items that may support R&D activities and to measure or estimate their R&D content. For the purposes of GBARD, the Government sector comprises (a) the central (federal) government, (b) regional (state) government and (c) local (municipal) government subsectors (FM2015, Chapter 12).
| Levels of government | Definition | Included / Not included | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central (federal) government | Ministries and other central bodies of the state administration. | Included. | R&D is financed from the Central government. |
| Regional (state) government | Not included. | Does not contribute. | |
| Local (municipal) government | Not included. | Does not contribute. |
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
Not requested.
3.5. Statistical unit
Public administrations.
3.6. Statistical population
See below.
3.6.1. National target population
The target population is the population for which inferences are made. The frame (or frames, as sometimes several frames are used) is a device that permits access to population units. The frame population is the set of population units, which can be accessed through the frame and the survey data really refer to this population.
| Definition of the national target population | Institutions providing funds for R&D from the state budget. |
|---|---|
| Estimation of the target population size | 14 |
R&D funds in the state budget are allocated to:
- Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic (MERDY SR);
- Other ministries and central bodies;
- Slovak Academy of Sciences.
The Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic provides R&D institutional funds to HES institutions and project funds to R&D performers in all sectors through the following agencies:
- Agency for the Support of Research and Development (budgetary organisation of the MERDY SR);
- Research Agency;
- Scientific Grant Agency of the MERDY SR and the Slovak Academy of Sciences (VEGA);
- Cultural and Educational Grant Agency of the MERDY SR (KEGA).
Other ministries and central bodies and the Slovak Academy of Sciences provide R&D funds to R&D performers under their administration.
By the GBARD survey, ministries and other central bodies are addressed (not the listed agencies), that ensure to avoid double counting.
3.7. Reference area
Not requested.
3.8. Coverage - Time
Not requested. See point 5.
3.9. Base period
Not requested. The base year for the unit Purchasing Power Standard (PPS) and PPS per inhabitant at constant prices is currently 2005. All calculations of non-basic unit (national currencies) are done by Eurostat.
Not requested.
a) Calendar year:
Reference period is the calendar year 2023.
b) Fiscal year:
Start month: 1 January 2023
End month: 31 December 2023
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
See below.
6.1.1. European legislation
Since the beginning of 2021, GBARD statistics are based on Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2020/1197 of 30 July 2020 laying down technical specifications and arrangements pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council on European business statistics repealing 10 legal acts in the field of business statistics. The Regulation sets the framework for the collection of R&D statistics and specifies the main variables of interest and their breakdowns at predefined level of detail. GBARD statistics were based until the end of 2020 on the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2012/995 concerning the production and development of Community statistics on science and technology.
6.1.2. National legislation
- Act. No. 540/2001 Coll. on state statistics as amended - adopted by the National Council of the Slovak Republic.
- Agreement between Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic and the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic. According to this agreement the ministry collects and establishes GBARD data and provides them to the statistical office.
6.1.3. Standards and manuals
- Frascati Manual 2015, Guidelines for Collecting and Reporting Data on Research and Experimental Development
- EBS Methodological Manual on R&D Statistics
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not requested.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Confidentiality, being one of the process quality components, concerns the privacy of data providers (households, enterprises, administrations and other respondents), the confidentiality of the information they provide and the extent of its use for statistical purposes.
A property of data indicating the extent to which their unauthorised disclosure could be prejudicial or harmful to the interest of the source or other relevant parties.
a) Confidentiality protection required by law:
- Act No. 540/2001 Coll. on state statistics as amended
- Internal regulation of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic on the protection of confidential statistical data.
b) Confidentiality commitments of survey staff:
The GBARD survey is carried out by the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic. Methods ensuring confidentiality of survey data are used and confidentiality commitment of the survey staff is ensured. GBARD data are not disseminated at national level.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic obtains aggregated data from the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic. The ministry ensures protection of confidential data. GBARD data are not disseminated at national level.
8.1. Release calendar
GBARD data are not published at national level. Therefore, release policy and release calendar for GBARD data set does not exist.
8.2. Release calendar access
Not relevant.
8.3. Release policy - user access
Not relevant.
GBARD data are not disseminated at national level.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
See below.
10.1.1. Availability of the releases
| Availability (Y/N)1 | Content, format, links, ... | |
|---|---|---|
| Regular releases | N | |
| Ad-hoc releases | N |
1) Y - Yes, N – No
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
See below.
10.2.1. Availability of means of dissemination
| Means of dissemination | Availability (Y/N)1 | Content, format, links, ... |
|---|---|---|
| General publication/article (paper, online) |
N | |
| Specific paper publication (paper, online) |
N |
1) Y – Yes, N - No
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
GBARD data are available in on-line data base of Eurostat.
10.3.1. Data tables - consultations
Not requested.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
See below.
10.4.1. Provisions affecting the access
| Access rights to the information | GBARD data are not disseminated at national level. |
|---|---|
| Access cost policy | GBARD data are not disseminated at national level. |
| Micro-data anonymisation rules | Not applicable. |
10.5. Dissemination format - other
See below.
10.5.1. Metadata - consultations
Not requested.
10.5.2. Availability of other dissemination means
| Dissemination means | Availability (Y/N)1 | Micro-data / Aggregate figures | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet: main results available on the national statistical authority’s website | N | ||
| Data prepared for individual ad hoc requests | N | ||
| Other | N |
1) Y – Yes, N - No
10.6. Documentation on methodology
National metadata file does not exist, as GBARD data are not disseminated at national level. Methodology on GBARD statistics is provided to Eurostat in this metadata file.
10.6.1. Metadata completeness - rate
Not requested.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
See below.
10.7.1. Documentation and users’ requests
| Type(s) of data accompanying information available (metadata, graphs, etc.) | Accompanying information to the GBARD data is provided in this metadata file. |
|---|---|
| Request on further clarification | No request on further clarification. |
| Measure to increase clarity | Yes. Discussions with the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic to clarify the methodology and improve the data quality. |
| Impression of users on the clarity of the accompanying information to the data | Not applicable, GBARD is not published in national statistics. |
11.1. Quality assurance
Statistical Office of the SR has established the system of quality management. Quality manual contains description of system of quality management and fulfillment of requirements of standard ISO 9001.
The application of the Quality manual in practice ensures that all activities with impact on the quality of statistical products are planned, managed, examined, evaluated and meet the requirements accepted in the customer order.
Quality manual is available only in Slovak.
The basis of the whole system of quality management is the European Statistics Code of Practice.
GBARD data compiler, the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the SR is part of other national authorities responsible for the development, production and dissemination of European statistics. Its production of statistics is in line with the Quality manual.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
GBARD statistics are in line with the Frascati Manual methodology and the Eurostat´s Methodological guidelines of the FM2015 implementation. GBARD data are compiled at chapter level of the NABS classification that breakdown is stated by the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197. Data are compiled and transmitted to Eurostat from the provisional budget and also from the final budget in the stated deadline.
In the GBARD compilation process quality guidelines and compliance monitoring is used.
Main strenghts of the GBARD statistics:
- The GBARD survey has full coverage of funding entities and the response rate is equal to 100%.
- Matching information from different sources of data, direct survey, state budget, comparison with data from R&D survey.
- Regular negotiations are conducted between the NSI and data compiler, the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the SR (MERDY SR) to improve the quality of data.
- Last improvements were made in 2024, when a written guideline was provided to ministry according to EBS Methodological Manual for R&D statistics, 2023 edition and the agreement between the NSI and MERDY SR regarding GBARD data was amended.
Weakness:
GBARD statistics at subchapter level of the NABS classification, i.e. the optional recommendation of the Commission Regulation, is available for NABS12 and NABS13 only.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
See below.
12.1.1. Needs at national level
| Users’ class1 | Description of users | Users’ needs |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eurostat, OECD | Data used for analyses, research policy and dissemination in databases and publications. |
| 1 | Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the SR | Data used for policy making in the field of Science and Technology. |
1) Users' class codification
1- Institutions:
- European level: Commission (DGs, Secretariat General), Council, European Parliament, ECB, other European agencies etc.
- in Member States, at the national or regional level: Ministries of Economy or Finance, other ministries (for sectoral comparisons), National Statistical Institutes and other statistical agencies (norms, training, etc.), and
- International organisations: OECD, UN, IMF, ILO, etc.
2- Social actors: Employers’ associations, trade unions, lobbies, among others, at the European, national or regional level.
3- Media: International or regional media – specialized or for the general public – interested both in figures and analyses or comments. The media are the main channels of statistics to the general public.
4- Researchers and students (Researchers and students need statistics, analyses, ad hoc services, access to specific data.)
5- Enterprises or businesses (Either for their own market analysis, their marketing strategy (large enterprises) or because they offer consultancy services)
6- Other (User class defined for national purposes, different from the previous classes.)
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
To evaluate if users' needs have been satisfied, the best way is to use user satisfaction surveys.
12.2.1. National Surveys and feedback
| Conduction of a user satisfaction survey or any other type of monitoring user satisfaction | The user satisfaction survey has not been undertaken whose results could be relevant for GBARD statistics. |
|---|---|
| User satisfaction survey specific for GBARD statistics | There is no specific satisfaction survey for GBARD statistics in Slovakia. |
| Short description of the feedback received | Not applicable |
12.3. Completeness
See below.
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
100 % for mandatory data.
12.3.2. Completeness - overview
Completeness is assessed via comparison of the data delivered against the requirements of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2020/1197.
| 5 (Very Good) |
4 (Good) |
3 (Satisfactory) |
2 (Poor) |
1 (Very poor) |
Reasons for missing cells | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Provisional budget statistics1 | X | |||||
| Obligatory final budget statistics1 | X | |||||
| Optional final budget statistics2 | X |
1) Criteria: Obligatory data (provisional budget and final budget). Only 'Very Good' = 100% and 'Very Poor' <100% apply.
2) Criteria: Optional data (final budget). 'Very Good' = 100%; 'Good' = >75%;'Satisfactory' 50 to 75%%; 'Poor' 25 to 50%; 'Very Poor' 0 to 25%.
12.3.3. Data availability
See below.
12.3.3.1. Data availability – Provisional data
| Availability1 | Frequency of data collection | Gap years – years with missing data | Time of compilation (T+x)2 | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total GBARD | Y 1993 | Annual | T | ||
| NABS Chapter level | Y 1993 | Annual | T | ||
| NABS Sub-chapter level | N | ||||
| Special categories - Biotech | N | ||||
| Special categories - Nanotech | N | ||||
| Special categories - Security | N |
1) Availability of the data: N: No, data are not available, Y: Yes, data are available + start year.
2) Time of compilation: T is assumed to represent the end of reference period, x expresses the number of months after (positive) or before (negative) T when data is compiled
12.3.3.2. Data availability – Final data
| Availability1 | Frequency of data collection | Gap years – years with missing data | Time of compilation (T+x)2 | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total GBARD | Y 1993 | Annual | T+12 | ||
| NABS Chapter level | Y 1993 | Annual | T+12 | ||
| NABS Sub-chapter level | N | ||||
| Special categories - Biotech | N | ||||
| Special categories - Nanotech | N | ||||
| Special categories - Security | N |
1) Availability of the data: N: No, data are not available, Y: Yes, data are available + start year.
2) Time of compilation: T is assumed to represent the end of reference period, x expresses the number of months after (positive) or before (negative) T when data is compiled
12.3.3.3. Data availability – Other special categories
| Special categories | Stage1 | Availability1 | Frequency of data colletion | Gap years – years with missing data | Time of compilation (T+x)3 | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National public funding to transnationally coordinated R&D | F | Y 2009 | Annual | T+12 | ||
| GBARD by institutional/project funding | F | Y 2012 | Annual | T+12 | ||
1) Stage: P - provisional, F - final.
2) Availability of the data: No, data are not available, Y: Yes, data are available + start year.
3) Time of compilation: T is assumed to represent the end of reference period, x expresses the number of months after (positive) or before (negative) T when data is compiled
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Accuracy in the statistical sense denotes the closeness of computations or estimates to the exact or true values. Statistics are not equal with the true values because of variability (the statistics change from implementation to implementation of the survey due to random effects) and bias (the average of the possible values of the statistics from implementation to implementation is not equal to the true value due to systematic effects).
Several types of statistical errors occur during the survey process. The following typology of errors has been adopted:
1. Sampling errors. These only affect sample surveys. They are due to the fact that only a subset of the population, usually randomly selected, is enumerated.
2. Non-sampling errors. Non-sampling errors affect sample surveys and complete enumerations alike and comprise:
a) Coverage errors,
b) Measurement errors,
c) Non response errors and
d) Processing errors.
Model assumption errors should be treated under the heading of the respective error they are trying to reduce.
13.1.1. Accuracy - Overall by 'Types of Error'
| Sampling errors | Non-sampling errors1) | Model-assumption Errors1) | Perceived direction of the error2) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage errors | Measurement errors | Processing errors | Non response errors | |||
| - | - | - | - | - | - | +/- |
1) Ranking of the type(s) of errors that result in over/under-estimation, from the most important source of error (1) to the least important source of error (5) In the event that errors of a particular type do not exist, is used the sign ‘-‘.
2) The perceived direction of the ‘overall’ error using the signs “+” for over estimation, “-” for under estimation and “+/-” when assumption of the direction of the error cannot be made for GBARD.
13.1.2. Assessment of the accuracy
| Indicators | 5 (Very Good)1 | 4 (Good)2 | 3 (Satisfactory)3 | 2 (Poor)4 | 1 (Very poor)5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GBARD | X | ||||
| National public funding to transnationally coordinated R & D | X |
1) High level of coverage (At least all national or federal ministries and the ministries and agencies responsible for R&D funding at state or regional level). High rate of response (>90%) in data collection. All figures broken down by NABS.
2) If at least one out of the three criteria described above would not be fully met.
3) In the event that the rate of response would be lower than 80% even by meeting the two remaining criteria.
4) In the event that the average rate of response would be lower than 70% and at least one of the two remaining criteria would not be met.
5) If all the three criteria described above are not met.
13.2. Sampling error
Not requested.
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
Not requested.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Non-sampling errors occur in all phases of a survey. They add to the sampling errors (if present) and contribute to decreasing overall accuracy. It is important to assess their relative weight in the total error and devote appropriate resources for their control and assessment.
13.3.1. Coverage error
Coverage errors are due to divergences between the target population and the frame population. The frame population is the set of target population members that has a chance to be selected into the survey sample. It is a listing of all items in the population from which the sample is drawn that contains contact details as well as sufficient information to perform stratification and sampling.
a) Description/assessment of coverage errors:
Institutions mentioned in the FM2015 are fully covered.
b) Measures taken to reduce their effect:
13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate
Institutions funding R&D from the state budget are covered, they all belong to the target population. GBARD data are not collected from units not included in the FM2015 definition.
13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion
Not requested.
13.3.2. Measurement error
Measurement errors occur during data collection and generate bias by recording values different than the true ones. The survey questionnaire used for data collection may have led to the recording of wrong values.
a) Description/assessment of measurement errors:
Data were checked during the collection and recording procedure and corrected. All required units provided the GBARD data.
Number of units addressed by the GBARD questionnaire is small (14), there is no specific software for data collection and editing. Analysis of the editing phase is not available.
b) Measures taken to reduce their effect: Not applicable
13.3.3. Non response error
Non response errors: occur when a survey failed to collect data on all survey variables from all the population units designated for data collection in a sample or complete enumeration.
a) Problems in obtaining data from targeted information providers:
Problems in obtaining data from targeted information providers usually does not occur.
b) Measures taken to reduce their effect:
Non-response error does not exist. Number of data provider is small, they all may be connected.
c) Effect of non-response errors on the produced statistics:
Non-response error does not exist.
13.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate
Not requested.
13.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate
Not requested.
13.3.4. Processing error
Between data collection and the beginning of statistical analysis, data must undergo a certain processing: coding, data entry, data editing, imputation, etc. Errors introduced at these stages are called processing errors. Data editing identifies inconsistencies or errors in the data.
a) Data processing and editing processes:
Processing and editing errors are corrected immediately after their emergence.
b) Description of errors:
E.g. computing errors when aggregations are calculated.
c) Measures taken to reduce their effect:
More attention to calculation.
13.3.5. Model assumption error
Model assumption errors occur when the assumptions made for the estimation of parameters, models, the testing of statistical hypotheses, etc., are violated. As a result, the quality of the resulting statistics is affected (e.g. degrees of confidence might be inflated).
Description/assessment:
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
Timeliness and punctuality refer to time and dates, but in a different manner: the timeliness of statistics reflects the length of time between their availability and the event or phenomenon they describe. Punctuality refers to the time lag between the release date of the data and the target date on which they should have been delivered, with reference to dates announced in the official release calendar.
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
Date of first release of national data: T+6
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
Date of first release of national data: T+12
14.2. Punctuality
Punctuality refers to the time lag between the release date of data and the target date on which they were scheduled for release as announced officially.
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
Punctuality of time schedule of data release = (Actual date of the data release) - (Scheduled date of the data release)
No delay.
14.2.1.1. Deadline and date of data transmission
| Transmission of provisional data | Transmission of final data | |
|---|---|---|
| Legally defined deadline of data transmission (T+_ months) | 6 | 12 |
| Actual date of transmission of the data (T+x months) | 6 | 12 |
| Delay (days) | 0 | 0 |
| Reasoning for delay | - | - |
15.1. Comparability - geographical
See below.
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not requested.
15.1.2. Survey Concepts Issues
The following table lists a number of key survey concepts and conceptual issues; it gives reference to the Commission Regulation No 2020/1197, Frascati manual and the EBS Methodological Manual on R&D Statistics paragraphs with recommendations about these concepts / issues.
| Concept / Issue | Reference to recommendations | Deviation from recommendations | National definition / Treatment / Deviations from recommendations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research and development | FM2015 Chapter 2 (mainly paragraphs 2.3 and 2.4). | No deviation | |
| Coverage of levels of government | FM2015, §12.5 to 12.9 | No deviation | |
| Socioeconomic objectives coverage and breakdown | Reg. 2020/1197: Annex 1, Table 20 | No deviation | |
| Reference period | Reg. 2020/1197: Annex 1, Table 20 | No deviation |
15.1.3. Deviations from recommendations
GBARD encompass all spending allocations met from sources of government revenue foreseen within the budget, such as taxation. Spending allocations by extra-budgetary government entities are within the scope only to the extent that their funds are allocated through the budgetary process (FM2015 §12.9). The following table lists a number of key methodological issues, which may affect the international comparability of national GBARD statistics.
| Methodological issues | Reference to recommendations | Deviation from recommendations | National definition / Treatment / Deviations from recommendations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Definition of GBARD | FM § 12.9 | No deviation | GBARD includes all government budget allocations for R&D to be met from taxation or other government revenue foreseen within the budget. |
| Stages of data collection | FM2015 §12.41 | No deviation | |
| Gross / net approach, net principle | FM2015 §12.20 and 12.21 | No deviation | Budgetary amounts for which corresponding revenue is expected from non-budgetary sources is excluded from GBARD according to the net principle. |
| EU/other funds | Eurostat's EBS Methodological Manual on R&D Statistics | No deviation | EU funds are not included, only the cofinancing part is included. |
| Types of expenditure | FM2015 §12.15 to 12.18 | No deviation | |
| Current and capital expenditure | FM §12.15 | No deviation | Both current and capital expenditure are included in GBARD. |
| Extra budgetary funds | FM §12.8, 12.20, 12.38 | No deviation | Extra budgetary funds are not included. |
| Loans | FM §12.31, 12.32, 12.34 | No deviation | Loans are not included in GBARD data. |
| Indirect funding, tax rebates, etc. | FM §12.31 - 12.38 | No deviation | Indirect funding (tax rebates, …) is excluded. |
| Treatment of multi-annual projects | FM2015 §12.44 | No deviation | Multi-annual projects are reported in each budgetary years, but only that part corresponding to the given year. |
| Treatment of GBARD going to R&D abroad | FM2015 §12.19 | No deviation | GBARD includes contributions to international R&D programmes (ESA, EUROSTARS, JPND, M-ERA.NET 2, etc.) and organisations (CERN, EMBL). |
| Criterion for distribution by socioeconomic objective | FM2015 §12.50 to 12.71 | No deviation | |
| Method of identification of primary objective | Eurostat's EBS Methodological Manual on R&D Statistics, topic 2, statement B.6 | No deviation |
15.2. Comparability - over time
See below.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
See below.
15.2.2. Breaks in time series
| Length of comparable time series | Break years1 | Nature of the breaks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provisional data | 21 years | 2002 | - GBARD covers R&D activities; until 2001, other S&T activities were included. - a new budget classification compatible with COFOG enables the identification of government budget appropriations for defence R&D. In earlier years, defence R&D was included in the total but not available separately. The defence category includes R&D appropriations for defence, safety and security of the country. |
| Final data | 22 years | 2002 | - GBARD covers R&D activities; until 2001, other S&T activities were included. - a new budget classification compatible with COFOG enables the identification of government budget appropriations for defence R&D. In earlier years, defence R&D was included in the total but not available separately. The defence category includes R&D appropriations for defence, safety and security of the country. |
1) Breaks years are years for which data are not fully comparable to the previous period.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Until 2001, GBARD covered S&T activities, while GERD covered only R&D activities and did not cover institutions under Ministry of Defence of the SR.
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
Not requested.
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
Not requested.
15.4. Coherence - internal
This part compares GBARD statistics from the provisional and final budget for the reference year.
15.4.1. Comparison between provisional and final data according to NABS 2007
| R&D allocations in the provisional budget delivered at T+6 | R&D allocations in the final budget delivered at T+12 | Difference (of final data) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exploration and exploitation of the Earth | 10093 | 8635 | -1458 |
| Environment | 14283 | 13670 | -613 |
| Exploration and exploitation of space | 8063 | 7674 | -389 |
| Transport, telecommunication and other infrastructures | 7262 | 6519 | -743 |
| Energy | 4372 | 3962 | -410 |
| Industrial production and technology | 31602 | 33146 | 1544 |
| Health | 33610 | 36570 | 2960 |
| Agriculture | 8479 | 12755 | 4276 |
| Education | 6044 | 8960 | 2916 |
| Culture, recreation, religion and mass media | 19327 | 15200 | -4127 |
| Political and social systems, structures and processes | 10075 | 7828 | -2247 |
| General advancement of knowledge: R&D financed from General University Funds (GUF) | 176167 | 172284 | -3883 |
| General advancement of knowledge: R&D financed from other sources than GUF | 69842 | 107057 | 37215 |
| Defence | 15870 | 19659 | 3789 |
| TOTAL GBARD | 415089 | 453919 | 38830 |
The assessment of costs associated with a statistical product is a rather complicated task since there must exist a mechanism for appointing portions of shared costs (for instance shared IT resources and dissemination channels) and overheads (office space, utility bills etc). The assessment must become detailed and clear enough so that international comparisons among agencies of different structures are feasible.
16.1. Costs summary
| Costs for the statistical authority (in national currency) | % sub-contracted1) | |
|---|---|---|
| Staff costs | Not available. | No sub-contracting. |
| Data collection costs | Not available. | No sub-contracting. |
| Other costs | Not available. | No sub-contracting. |
| Total costs | Not available. | No sub-contracting. |
| Comments on costs | ||
1) The shares of the figures given in the first column that are accounted for by payments to private firms or other Government agencies.
16.2. Components of burden and description of how these estimates were reached
| Value | Computation method | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Respondents (R) | 14 | |
| Average Time required to complete the questionnaire in hours (T)1 | 17 | Based on responses to a direct question. |
| Average hourly cost (in national currency) of a respondent (C) | 15,59 | Based on average hourly earnings in public administration in 2023. |
| Total cost | 3710,42 | RxTxC |
1) T = the time required to provide the information, including time spent assembling information prior to completing a form or taking part in interview and the time taken up by any subsequent contacts after receipt of the questionnaire (‘Re-contact time’)
17.1. Data revision - policy
Final GBARD data are not revised after T+12. The national R&D survey has annual periodicity, R&D data are available for comparison when GBARD data are compiled.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Not requested.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
Not requested.
18.1. Source data
R&D funds from the state budget are allocated to:
- Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic (MERDY SR);
- Other ministries and central bodies;
- Slovak Academy of Sciences.
The MERDY SR provides R&D institutional funds to HES institutions and project funds to R&D performers in all sectors through the following agencies:
- Agency for the Support of Research and Development (budgetary organisation of the MERDY SR);
- Research Agency;
- Scientific Grant Agency of the MERDY SR and the Slovak Academy of Sciences (VEGA);
- Cultural and Educational Grant Agency of the MERDY SR (KEGA).
Other ministries and central bodies and the Slovak Academy of Sciences provide R&D funds to R&D performers under their administration.
By the GBARD questionnaire, the ministries and other central bodies are addressed only, not the listed agencies, that ensure to avoide a double reporting of funds.
a) Provisional data:
Direct survey + budget analysis.
b) Final data:
Direct survey + budget analysis.
c) General University Funds (GUF):
GUF consists of funds for R&D activities received by/transferred to higher education institutions from the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic that is formally responsible for education policy and related funding in the country, i.e. they are funds from the state budget and include only R&D funding in terms of FM 2015 and EBS Methodological Manual for R&D statistics, 2023 edition.
GUF funding institutions are the following:
1) Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic (MERDY SR);
2) Scientific Grant Agency of the MERDY SR and the Slovak Academy of Sciences (VEGA) - it is an internal grant system, which provides for a mutually coordinated procedure for the selection and evaluation of basic research projects solved by higher education institutions and scientific institutes of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAS). It proposes the ministry and the SAS the amount of subsidy to be provided for the solution of selected new and ongoing scientific projects from institutional funds.
3) Cultural and Educational Grant Agency of the MERDY SR (KEGA) - it is an internal grant system focused on the financial support of applied research projects in the field of education, pedagogy and creative and interpretative art solved by researchers from public universities.
Funding listed above under point 1 from the MERDY SR is “institutional funding” and subsidies provided by agencies VEGA a KEGA (points 2 and 3) are “project funding” but all three are provided to higher education institutions as transfers, so they are included in the GUF.
The wording of GUF is not used in either the ministry or the higher education institutions. They are using the term „subsidies to public higher education institutions from the state budget“. The GUF is part of these funds devoted to R&D.
The MERDY SR prepares annually for R&D subsidies to the public HES institutions the breakdown of subsidies from the state budget based on the provisions of Act no. 131/2002 Coll. on Higher Education Institutions and on its Amendments and on the stated methodology for allocation. From this document, the list of HES institutions that are allowed to receive GUF funds is also available.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
See 12.3.3.
18.3. Data collection
See below.
18.3.1. Data collection overview
| Provisional data | Final data | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data collection method | Data are acquired from the survey for GBARD compilation conducted by the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the SR. Ministries and other central bodies included in the state budget system are addressed by the survey. Data are compiled according to the budgetary classification compatible with COFOG. Data provided in the GBARD survey are then compared with the state budget. | Data are acquired from the survey for GBARD compilation conducted by the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the SR. Ministries and other central bodies included in the state budget system are addressed by the survey. Data are compiled according to the budgetary classification compatible with COFOG. Data provided in the GBARD survey are then compared with the state budget. | |
| Stage of data collection | Initial budget appropriations (figures as voted by legislature for the coming year, including changes introduced in the parliamentary debate). | Final budget appropriations (figures based on revised budget approved during the year). | |
| Reporting units | The funding institution is the reporting unit. | The funding institution is the reporting unit. | |
| Basic variable | Government R&D appropriations in the initial budget | Government R&D appropriations in the final budget | |
| Time of data collection (T+x)1) | T-2 | T+10 | |
| Problems in the translation of budget items | No problems. | ||
1) Time of data collection (T+x): T is assumed to represent the end of reference period. x expresses the number of months after (positive) or before (negative) T when data is collected.
18.3.2. General University Funds (GUF)
GBARD survey.
18.3.3. Distribution by socioeconomic objectives (SEO)
| Level of distribution of budgetary items – institution or programme/project | Mainly for project level. |
|---|---|
| Criterion of distribution – purpose or content | Main purpose of the R&D programmes or projects. |
| Method of identification of primary objectives | In line with the EBS Methodological Manual for R&D statistics, 2023 edition, section 2.4.2.2. |
| Difficulties of distribution | Since 2002, the classification used compatible with COFOG. There are some differences between COFOG and NABS. Objectives - Exploration and exploitation of the Earth- Exploration and exploitation of Space are not separately available. They are included in other objectives, mainly in Basic research. |
18.3.4. Questionnaire and other documents
| Annex | Name of the file |
|---|---|
| GBARD national questionnaire and explanatory notes in English: | SK_GBARD_questionnaire_EN |
| GBARD national questionnaire and explanatory notes in the national language: | SK_GBARD_questionnaire_SK |
| Other relevant documentation of national methodology in English: | - |
| Other relevant documentation of national methodology in the national language: | - |
Annexes:
SK GBARD questionnaiare in English
SK GBARD questionnaiare in Slovak
18.4. Data validation
- Confronting budget data with the GBARD survey, communication with budget entities.
- Comparison of GBARD statistics and R&D statistics, meetings of both statistics producers are organised to discuss possible inconsistencies.
18.5. Data compilation
See below.
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
No imputed data.
18.5.2. Data compilation methods
See below.
18.5.2.1. Identifying R&D
| Method(s) of separating R&D from non-R&D | R&D and non-R&D activities are separated according to the Frascati manual methodology. |
|---|---|
| Description of the use of the coefficient (if applicable) | Coefficients are used only for data in lines 12 and 13 of the GBARD table for their further breakdown to 6 basic fields of R&D, because some respondents in the GBARD survey did not provide these data properly. |
| Coefficient estimation method | Data provided by respondents in the GBARD survey in lines 12 and 13 are compared with the surveyed data by socio-economic objectives from R&D performers in the R&D survey. Data of R&D survey respondents filling in lines 12 and 13 are divided to 6 basic field of R&D using the data from the module asking the field in which their R&D activities are mainly performed. Then share of particular fields in the total figure in lines 12, 13 of the R&D survey is used also for further distribution of GBARD data in lines 12, 13. |
| Frequency of updating of coefficients | Annual. |
18.5.2.2. General University Funds (GUF)
| Method(s) of separating R&D from non-R&D | R&D and non-R&D activities are separated in state budget according to the COFOG classification. The Frascati manual methodology is fulfilled |
|---|---|
| Description of the use of the coefficient (if applicable) | Coefficients are used only for further breakdown to 6 basic fields of R&D, because some respondents in the GBARD survey did not provide these data properly. |
| Coefficient estimation method | Data provided by respondents in the GBARD survey in line 12 are compared with the surveyed data by socio-economic objectives from R&D performers in the R&D survey. Data of R&D survey respondents filling in lines 12 are divided to 6 basic field of R&D using the data from the module asking the field in which their R&D activities are mainly performed. Then share of particular fields in the total figure in lines 12 of the R&D survey is used also for further distribution of GBARD data in lines 12. |
| Frequency of updating of coefficients | Annual. |
18.5.2.3. Other issues
| Treatment of multi-annual programmes | Multi-annual programmes are reported in each of the budget years, but only the relevant part corresponding to that year. |
|---|---|
| Possibility to classify budgetary items by COFOG functions | Yes, since 2002. |
| Possibility to classify budgetary items by other nomenclatures e.g. NACE | No. |
| Method of estimation of future budgets | Future budgets are estimated according to programmes adopted by the Government and according to the growth rates of inflation and labour cost. |
18.6. Adjustment
Not requested.
18.6.1. Seasonal adjustment
Not requested.
Statistics on Government Budget Allocations for R&D (GBARD) measure government support to research and development (R&D) activities, and thereby provide information about the priority governments give to different public R&D funding activities. This type of funder-based approach for reporting R&D involves identifying all the budget items that may support R&D activities and measuring or estimating their R&D content.
Main concepts and definitions used for the production of R&D statistics are given by the OECD (2015), Frascati Manual 2015: Guidelines for Collecting and Reporting Data on Research and Experimental Development, The Measurement of Scientific, Technological and Innovation Activities (FM 2015, Chapter 12), which is the internationally recognised standard methodology for collecting R&D statistics and by Eurostat’s European Business Statistics Methodological Manual on R&D Statistics (EBS Methodological Manual on R&D Statistics).
Since the beginning of 2021, the collection of R&D statistics is based on Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2020/1197 of 30 July 2020.
The Regulation sets the framework for the collection of R&D statistics and specifies the main variables of interest and their breakdowns at predefined level of detail (Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197 of 30 July 2020 laying down technical specifications and arrangements pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council on European business statistics repealing 10 legal acts in the field of business statistics (europa.eu)).
Statistics on science, technology and innovation were collected until the end of 2020 based on Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2012/995 concerning the production and development of Community statistics on science and technology.
31 October 2025
Not requested.
Public administrations.
See below.
Not requested.
a) Calendar year:
Reference period is the calendar year 2023.
b) Fiscal year:
Start month: 1 January 2023
End month: 31 December 2023
Accuracy in the statistical sense denotes the closeness of computations or estimates to the exact or true values. Statistics are not equal with the true values because of variability (the statistics change from implementation to implementation of the survey due to random effects) and bias (the average of the possible values of the statistics from implementation to implementation is not equal to the true value due to systematic effects).
Several types of statistical errors occur during the survey process. The following typology of errors has been adopted:
1. Sampling errors. These only affect sample surveys. They are due to the fact that only a subset of the population, usually randomly selected, is enumerated.
2. Non-sampling errors. Non-sampling errors affect sample surveys and complete enumerations alike and comprise:
a) Coverage errors,
b) Measurement errors,
c) Non response errors and
d) Processing errors.
Model assumption errors should be treated under the heading of the respective error they are trying to reduce.
Not requested.
See below.
R&D funds from the state budget are allocated to:
- Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic (MERDY SR);
- Other ministries and central bodies;
- Slovak Academy of Sciences.
The MERDY SR provides R&D institutional funds to HES institutions and project funds to R&D performers in all sectors through the following agencies:
- Agency for the Support of Research and Development (budgetary organisation of the MERDY SR);
- Research Agency;
- Scientific Grant Agency of the MERDY SR and the Slovak Academy of Sciences (VEGA);
- Cultural and Educational Grant Agency of the MERDY SR (KEGA).
Other ministries and central bodies and the Slovak Academy of Sciences provide R&D funds to R&D performers under their administration.
By the GBARD questionnaire, the ministries and other central bodies are addressed only, not the listed agencies, that ensure to avoide a double reporting of funds.
a) Provisional data:
Direct survey + budget analysis.
b) Final data:
Direct survey + budget analysis.
c) General University Funds (GUF):
GUF consists of funds for R&D activities received by/transferred to higher education institutions from the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic that is formally responsible for education policy and related funding in the country, i.e. they are funds from the state budget and include only R&D funding in terms of FM 2015 and EBS Methodological Manual for R&D statistics, 2023 edition.
GUF funding institutions are the following:
1) Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic (MERDY SR);
2) Scientific Grant Agency of the MERDY SR and the Slovak Academy of Sciences (VEGA) - it is an internal grant system, which provides for a mutually coordinated procedure for the selection and evaluation of basic research projects solved by higher education institutions and scientific institutes of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAS). It proposes the ministry and the SAS the amount of subsidy to be provided for the solution of selected new and ongoing scientific projects from institutional funds.
3) Cultural and Educational Grant Agency of the MERDY SR (KEGA) - it is an internal grant system focused on the financial support of applied research projects in the field of education, pedagogy and creative and interpretative art solved by researchers from public universities.
Funding listed above under point 1 from the MERDY SR is “institutional funding” and subsidies provided by agencies VEGA a KEGA (points 2 and 3) are “project funding” but all three are provided to higher education institutions as transfers, so they are included in the GUF.
The wording of GUF is not used in either the ministry or the higher education institutions. They are using the term „subsidies to public higher education institutions from the state budget“. The GUF is part of these funds devoted to R&D.
The MERDY SR prepares annually for R&D subsidies to the public HES institutions the breakdown of subsidies from the state budget based on the provisions of Act no. 131/2002 Coll. on Higher Education Institutions and on its Amendments and on the stated methodology for allocation. From this document, the list of HES institutions that are allowed to receive GUF funds is also available.
GBARD data are not disseminated at national level.
Timeliness and punctuality refer to time and dates, but in a different manner: the timeliness of statistics reflects the length of time between their availability and the event or phenomenon they describe. Punctuality refers to the time lag between the release date of the data and the target date on which they should have been delivered, with reference to dates announced in the official release calendar.
See below.
See below.
