Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia (SURS)

Demography and Social Statistics Division, Social Services Statistics Section

Litostrojska cesta 54, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenija

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.

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.

See below.

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).

Not requested.

Government budget allocations.

See below.

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.

Not requested.

Not requested. See point 5.

Not requested. 

Not requested.

a) Calendar year: 2021

b) Fiscal year: 2021

    Start month: January

    End month: December

See below.

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.

• Annual Programme of Statistical Survey (LPSR) (only in Slovene).
• National Statistics Act (OJ RS, No. 45/95 and 9/01) (only in Slovene available at http://pisrs.si/Pis.web/pregledPredpisa?id=ZAKO424).

• Frascati Manual 2015, Guidelines for Collecting and Reporting Data on Research and Experimental Development
• EBS Methodological Manual on R&D Statistics

Not requested.

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:

 The National Statistics Act (hereinafter the ZDSta) stipulates within fundamental principles of national statistics in Article 2 that “national statistics shall be implemented on the principles of … confidentiality …”. 

b)       Confidentiality commitments of survey staff:

 All employees are obliged to protect the content of personal and individual data and data on reporting units which they learn during their work as official secrecy. All employees sign a statement of data protection and thus confirm that they are informed about the issue. The obligation to protect the official secrecy continues after the termination of employment.

All GBARD data collected (by paper questionnaires) are treated as confidential and are used only for statistical purposes. By following general statistical confidentiality framework used in SURS, statistics can be published only in aggregate form, i.e. in a manner that does not allow recognition of the unit to which data relate. Identifiable information can be published only exceptionally in cases where the unit gives its written consent to publish it. More information on statistical confidentiality is available at https://www.stat.si/StatWeb/en/FundamentalPrinciples/StatConf.

Release calendar is publicly accessible. 

https://www.stat.si/StatWeb/en/ReleaseCal

All data and metadata information are published and are accessible to users through various channels; among them is the most important website. The information on the website is available free of charge and is also available at English, for the widest possible use that is actively promoted.

The release policy deternines the dissemination of statistical data to all users at the same time.

The data are published yearly, namely in September. 

See below.

1) Y - Yes, N – No

See below.

1) Y – Yes, N - No 

See 10.1.1

Not requested.

See below.

See below.

Not requested.

1) Y – Yes, N - No 

Methodological materials on SURS’s website are available at https://www.stat.si/statweb/File/DocSysFile/9536/23-086-2-ME.pdf

Not requested.

See below.

See 11.2.

Overall quality of GBARD statistics is good.

The coverage of reporting units is full. GBARD statistics domain follow general quality management activities used in SURS (including the European Statistics Code of Practice and the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics). Detailed methodological instructions for completing questionnaite are available. Data validation is performed in collaboration with reporting units. Discussion of results, substantive matters and key issues are points on the agenda or the subjects under discussion of the Research and Development, and Technology Statistics Advisory Committee.

However, there are still some aspects to be improved at GBARD statistics. Despite the available methodological guidelines and instructions reporting units still have some problems with understanding the content/definitions of R&D, especially with identifying or estimating the real/proper content of the budget items (i.e. capturing R&D from the budget items) as their records are not principally intended for GBARD reporting.

See below.

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.)

To evaluate if users' needs have been satisfied, the best way is to use user satisfaction surveys.

See below.

All data required were provided. 

Completeness is assessed via comparison of the data delivered against the requirements of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2020/1197.

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%.

See below.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

Not requested.

Not requested.

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.

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:

 The coverage errors were not identified.

b)      Measures taken to reduce their effect: N/A

There are no over-coverage errors in the survey.

Not requested.

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 error detection controls are focused on the consistency of the totals derived from different breakdowns (sector of performance, type of support, socio-economic objective, field of research and development). In case an important intra-annual change in GBARD figures is identified, one or more contacts with the reporting unit are made in order to obtain additional explanatory notes on data deviation or to arrange data retransmission. Data are collected with paper questionnaires.

The main reasons that cause measurement errors are: the questionnaire is filled in by several persons or organisational units, non-compliance with the methodological instructions, subjective and often unreliable and inconsistent assessment of funds as data can not be derived directly from reporting unit's records.

b)      Measures taken to reduce their effect:

If some errors are detected by the person responsible at SURS for data editing, it is first determined whether an error is remedied without contacting the reporting units, or the error is unclear and requires additional explanations form the reporting units. The reporting unit is always contacted when it is not clear from the reported data whether they are correct or not. Is also applies to the reporting unit when the reported data are very different form the data reported by the same reporting units for previous years.

In order to reduce the number of errors, it is very important that we regularly get feedback from reporting units by recontacting them. It is important to "educate" persons responsible for reporting, provide them methodological support, the reporting units in order to correctly and accurately fill in the questionnaire. The number of measurement errors would be reduced by using a clear, comprehensible questionnaire and clear, short and precise methodological guidelines for completing it.

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:

 There is no problems. 

b) Measures taken to reduce their effect:

  No non-response errors.

c) Effect of non-response errors on the produced statistics:

 N/A.

Not requested.

Not requested.

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:

 Data entry errors are minimize by means of consistency controls on key aggregates added to the survey questionnaire (in Excel form) and by means of processing software by visual checking.

b)      Description of errors:

 So far no processing errors have been identified.

c)       Measures taken to reduce their effect: /

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: N/A

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.

Date of first release of national data: 27 September (T +9) 

Date of first release of national data: 27 September (T +9)

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.

Punctuality of time schedule of data release = (Actual date of the data release) - (Scheduled date of the data release)

See below.

Not requested.

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.

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.

See below.

See below.

1)       Breaks years are years for which data are not fully comparable to the previous period.

GBARD data include only R&D financed by central government, while Government-financed GERD data include also R&D financed by local government.

GBARD data also include government funds which are allocated to R&D abroad, while Government-financed GERD covers only R&D performed on national teritory.

GBARD data does not include funds for R&D coming into the country from foreign public sources. Therefore, EU Structural Funds are not included. On the other hand, part of the Government-financed GERD includes also EU Structural Funds.

GBARD and Government-financed GERD are related to the calendar year. However, funds for R&D can be spent by the R&D performer in later years following the year in which it was committed by the funder, while Government-financed GERD shows the actual spending.

Not requested.

Not requested.

This part compares GBARD statistics from the provisional and final budget for the reference year.

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. 

1)       The shares of the figures given in the first column that are accounted for by payments to private firms or other Government agencies.

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’)

Provisional data are not disseminated. Only final data are published.

Not requested.

Not requested.

a)       Provisional data:

 Government budget allocations

b)      Final data:

 Government budget allocations

c)       General University Funds (GUF):
Government budget allocations

See 12.3.3.

See below.

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.

Paper questionnaire (optional questionnaire in the Excel format).

Validation activities are: comparing the statistics with previous cycles, investigating inconsistencies in the statistics; performing micro data editing.

See below.

The imputations were not made. 

See below.

Not requested.

Not requested.