Statistics Sweden

Economic Statistics and Analysis

Innovation, Business sector production and Research

Statistics Sweden
Att. Nils Adriansson
ESA/NUP/INF
Solna strandväg 86, Solna
SWEDEN

Statistics on Government R&D (GOVERD) measure research and experimental development (R&D) performed in the Government sector, i.e. R&D expenditure and R&D personnel. In line with this objective the target population for the national R&D survey of the Government sector should consist of all R&D performing units (including all R&D performers – occasional and continuous, known and unknown - in all branches and size classes) belonging to this sector.

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, which is the internationally recognised standard methodology for collecting R&D statistics and by the 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. Statistics on science, technology and innovation were collected until the end of 2020 based on the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2012/995 concerning the production and development of Community statistics on science and technology. 

• The local units for the statistics are compiled at regional level according to NUTS 2 – Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics;
• The distribution by socioeconomic objectives (SEO) is based on Nomenclature for the Analysis and Comparisons of Scientific Programmes and Budgets (NABS);
• The fields of research and development are based on Classification and distribution by Fields of Research and Development (FORD).

See below.

According to the Frascati Manual, expenditure on extramural R&D (i.e. R&D performed outside the statistical unit) is not included in intramural R&D performance totals (FM, §4.12).

The main variables of interest are R&D expenditure and R&D personnel. R&D expenditure is defined as all current and capital costs associated with R&D activities and is measured in millions in the national currency (SEK). R&D personnel is defined as all personnel performing R&D or providing direct support to R&D activities and is measured by headcount (HC) and full-time equivalents (FTE). Definitions are in accordance with FM15.

See below.

The FTE is defined as work on R&D performed by one full-time employed person during one year. The FTE should, according to the national questionnaires, be reported with an accuracy of 0.1.
The national questionnaires request information on the number of FTE performed on R&D during the preceding 12 months’ period.

The statistical unit is the institutional unit as defined by Council Regulation (EEC) No 1993/696 of 15 March 1993.

The statistical units are so called government units and non-profit institutions belonging to the government sector (NPIs):
• Central government - Central government authorities including social security funds,
• Secondary local government - Regional councils,
• Primary local government - Municipalities,
• Local and regional R&D units,
• NPIs controlled by government units

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 of institutional units.

The objective of the European R&D statistics is to cover all intramural R&D activities. In line with this objective, the target population for the national R&D survey of the Government Sector should consist of all R&D performing units (including known R&D performers or assumed to perform R&D). In practise however, countries in their R&D surveys might have difficulty in identifying R&D activities at the municipality level. 

In ESS countries, the frame population for GOV R&D statistics is defined as the list of all the institutional units classified by the national accounts (ESA) as included in the General government (S.13), with the exclusion of those units included in the Higher education sector (HES).

Sweden.

Not requested. See point 3.4.

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.

R&D expenditure in national currency in thousands, and R&D personnel by head count and full-time equivalents.

2021

See below.

- Frascati Manual 2015, Guidelines for Collecting and Reporting Data on Research and Experimental Development

- European Business Statistics 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 major policy in place to ensure confidentiality and prevent unauthorised disclosure of data that identify a person or economic entity is the Public Access to Information and Secrecy Act (2009:400). There are also specific conditions concerning the confidentiality of official statistics in the Official Statistics Act (2001:99). 

b)       Confidentiality commitments of survey staff: The major policy in place to ensure confidentiality and prevent unauthorised disclosure of data that identify a person or economic entity is the Public Access to Information and Secrecy Act (2009:400). There are also specific conditions concerning the confidentiality of official statistics in the Official Statistics Act (2001:99). 

For aggregate outputs, primary cell suppression is used as a general rule to ensure no confidential information is disclosed. To ensure that the information cannot be calculated using data in other cells, secondary cell suppression is used. These cells will be flagged as confidential. This only applies för the non-market NPIs.

The release policy and the release calendar are publicly available at Statistics Sweden's website.

The publication calendar is available on Statistics Sweden's website.

Statistics Sweden's release policy states that all statistics must be made available to all users equally and at the same time. Statistics are always released at 8.00 am on weekdays. Users are also informed of the availability of new statistics by news releases on Statistics Sweden's website. It is possible for users to subscribe to get e-mail notifications when new statistics within a certain subject area are released. Statistics are released by being made available in the statistical database. The release policy is available on Statistics Sweden's website.

Annualy.

See below.

1) Y - Yes, N – No

See below.

1) Y – Yes, N - No 

An online statistical database is available on Statistics Sweden's website (see link in Annex). During 2022, the R&D tables in the database were accessed 3 431 times. 

Not requested.

See below.

See below.

Not requested.

1) Y – Yes, N - No 

The main documentation on methodology is titled Statistikens framställning (translates to Statistical production) which is updated when new statistics are published. There is a common document covering all sectors for the R&D statistics in which the specific methodology for each sector is described. This documentation is only available in Swedish.

Not requested.

The main documentation on quality management is titled Kvalitetsdeklaration (translates to Quality report) and is updated when new statistcs are published. There is a common document covering all sectors for the R&D statistics in which the quality for the statistics on each sector is described. This documentation is only available in Swedish.

The quality management process at Statistics Sweden is described in a Quality policy. There is also a handbook on quality in official statistics which provides guidance concerning quality management and definitions and guidance on the quality criteria. The following quality criteria for official statistics are regulated by the Official Statistics Act (2001:99) and are the same as are reported in this document:

- Relevance
- Accuracy
- Timeliness
- Punctuality
- Availability and clarity
- Comparability
- Coherence

The framework for quality assurance set out in the Quality policy is a cyclic process with four steps. First is understanding legal requirements and user needs. Second is ensured processes. The third step is evaluation and analysis followed by improvement and development as the fourth step. The first step requires a good dialog with users of the statistics. One forum for such dialog is the User Council for R&D statistics. The second step is based on standardised, efficient, and secure processes which are ensured partly by automatization and digitalisation, partly by following the standardised methods, tools and processes set up for statistical production and found in Statistikproduktionsstödet (translates to the Statistical Production Guide). The third step means that the production processes continuously need to be evaluated. One way in which this done is by a yearly survey to all producers of official statics in which they evaluate the quality of the statistics produced or published during the year. Based on the results of the evaluations, decisions are made concerning which improvement and development activities are to be prioritised over the coming period, constituting the fourth and final step before the process begins again at the first step.

There are no major problems with the R&D methodology. Measurement error is considered the most important source of error in the statistics as a result of the relatively complex concepts involved in R&D statistics and that respondents are required to report on.

For the central government agencies the biggest problem is to determine what is R&D activities and what is not, especially in humanities and social sciences.

The biggest issue with the survey of the regional councils is the personnel resources. All regonal councils have trouble distinguishing between R&D activities and other activities, and therefore difficult to determine how many persons and FTEs are spent on R&D.

For municipalities it is the distinction between R&D activities and other activities that is difficult and they also have difficulties estimating how much financial resources are invested in R&D.

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.)

The views and opinions from users are primarily collected through the User council for statistics on research and development which meets twice yearly. The user council consists of representatives from the Ministry of Enterprise, the Ministry of Education, the Swedish Higher Education Authority, the Swedish Research Council, Vinnova (Sweden's innovation agency), RISE, the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions, the Swedish Agency for Growth Policy Analysis, the Research Institute of Industrial Economics, Lund University and Teknikföretagen (the trade association for the Swedish industry sector). Minutes from the last meeting of the user council are available in Swedish at Statistics Sweden's website.

All content requirements are regulated by the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2020/1197 of 30 July 2020. No additional national regulation regarding the content of R&D statistics exist. Data is available on all mandatory variables and breakdowns as well as some data that is requested on a voluntary basis. The completeness of the R&D statistics concerning the Goverment sector is therefore deemed good.

109 of 109 mandatory cells

Completeness is assessed via comparison of the data delivered against the requirements of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2020/1197 of 30 July 2020. The Regulation (EU) stipulates periodicity of variables that should be provided, breakdowns and if they should be provided mandatory or on voluntary basis.

Criteria:

A) Obligatory data. Only 'Very Good' = 100%, Poor' >95%; 'Very Poor' <100% apply.

B) Optional data. 'Very Good' = 100%; 'Good' = >75%; 'Satisfactory' 50 to 75%%; 'Poor' 25 to 50%; 'Very Poor' 0 to 25%.

See below.

1) Y-start year, N – data not available

1) Y-start year, N – data not available

1) Y-start year, N – data not available

1) This question is optional. It refers to variables and breakdowns NOT asked by the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2020/1197 (neither as 'optional').

2) Y-start year

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 R&D.

1) 'Very Good' = High level of coverage (annual rate of substitution in the target population lower than 5%). High average rates of response (>80%) in census and sample surveys. Full data consistency with reference to totals and relationships between variables in the dataset sent to Eurostat.  

2) 'Good' = In the event that at least one out of the three criteria described above would not be fully met.

3) 'Satisfactory' = In the event that the average rate of response would be lower than 60% even by meeting the two remaining criteria.

4) 'Poor' = In the event that the average rate of response would be lower than 60% and at least one of the two remaining criteria would not be met.

5) 'Very Poor' = If all the three criteria are not met.

That part of the difference between a population value and an estimate thereof, derived from a random sample, which is due to the fact that only a subset of the population is enumerated.

The main indicator used to measure sampling errors is the coefficient of variation (CV). 
Definition of coefficient of variation: 
CV= (Square root of the estimate of the sampling variance) / (Estimated value)

Does not apply. Census survey.

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: There is som under-coverage of non-market government controlled NPIs in the form of museums. Some of these are likely to perform R&D. Some other foundations are excluded that might perform (of fund) R&D but the amount is not considerd significant.

b)      Measures taken to reduce their effect: Not applicable.

c)       Share of PNP (if PNP is included in GOV): Not applicable.

0 %.

Not requested.

Measurement errors occur during data collection and generate bias by recording values different than the true ones (e.g. difficulty to distinguish intramural from extramural R&D Expenditure). The survey questionnaire used for data collection may have led to the recording of wrong values, or there may be respondent or interviewer bias.

a)       Description/assessment of measurement errors: The respondents fill out an electronic questionnaire. Measurement errors are caused by the fact that the R&D definitions are complicated and that the time that respondents are willing to take to fill in the questionnaire is limited. A risk is that respondents have their own definitions of R&D (or their accounting system defiinition) in mind when answering, which may or may not correspond to the definitions provided in the questionnaire. Overall the measurment error is considered small and random. 

b)      Measures taken to reduce their effect: Values are compared with corresponding values from previous survey years. There are a number of flags in the survey as welll as in the internal tool used for evaluating the data, that are triggered by reported values too far from the correspondent value of the previous survey. A closer contact is kept with the largest companies, to try to make sure that they report in line with the Frascati definitions of R&D to the extent it is possible. 

Non-response occurs 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.

There are two elements of non-response:

-Unit non-response which occurs when no data (or so little as to be unusable) are collected on a designated population unit.

-Item non-response which occurs when data only on some, but not all survey variables are collected on a designated population unit.

The extent of response (and accordingly of non response) is also measured with response rates. 

The main interest is to judge if the response from the target population was satisfactory by computing the un-weighted response rate.

Definition: Eligible are the survey units which indeed belong to the target population. Frame imperfections always leave the possibility that some units may not belong to the target population. Moreover, when there is no contact with certain units and no other way to establish their eligibility they are characterised as ‘unknown eligibility units’.

Un-weighted Unit Non- Response Rate = 1 - (Number of units with a response) / (Total number of eligible and unknown eligibility units in the survey) 

*Local and regional R&D units in Sweden are also included in Local government. These units have been etimated regarding reference year 2021 and are not included in the above table.

**Non-markets NPIs are not required by law to respond to the survey which is why the unit non-response rate is high.

Definition:
Un-weighted Item Non-Response Rate (%) = 1-(Number of units with a response for the item) / (Total number of eligible , for the item, units in the sample) * 100

Improvements in questionnaire design and support to respondents. There are 2 written reminders and important respondents are reminded via email.

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.

The local and regional R&D units are assumed to contribute by 3 precent of the total R&D in the government sector, including under coverage.

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.

Time lag between the end of reference period and the release date of the results:
Indicator: (Release date of provisional/ first results) - (Date of reference for the data)

a) End of reference period: 

2021-12-31 

b) Date of first release of national data: 

2022-07-24 

c) Lag (days):

195

a) End of reference period: 

2021-12-31

b) Date of first release of national data:

2022-10-27

c) Lag (days):

300

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.

No real issues. Small divergences from FM described in other sections.

The following table lists a number of key survey concepts and conceptual issues; it gives reference to the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2020/1197, Frascati manual and EBS Methodological Manual on R&D Statistics paragraphs with recommendations about these concepts / issues.

The following table lists a number of key methodological issues, which may affect the international comparability of national R&D statistics. The table gives the references in the Frascati manual, where related recommendations are made. Countries are asked to report on the existence of any deviations from existing recommendations and comment upon.

See below.

See below.

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

Final data for even reference years and for the main indicators are based on forecasts which the units provide in the regular GOV survey. 

This part deals with any national coherence assessments which may have been undertaken. It reports results for variables which are the same or relevant to R&D statistics, from other national surveys and / or administrative sources and explains and comments on their degree of agreement with R&D statistics.

Not requested.

Used as input to NA.

See below.

This part compares key R&D variables as preliminary and final data.

(1)    Calculate the average remuneration (cost) of individuals belonging to the internal R&D personnel, excluding those who are only formally ‘employees’ (university students, grant holders, etc.).

(2)    Calculate the average remuneration (cost) of individuals belonging to the external R&D personnel (FTEs/other current R&D costs for external R&D personnel).

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’)

Statistics Sweden's revision policy covers three types of revisions: planned and reoccuring revisions, revisions due to conceptual and/or methodological changes and corrections.

1. Planned and reoccuring revisions - In order to accommodate user timeliness needs, Statistics Sweden publisch preliminary figures. These figures are then revised once or several times before final data are released. In case of planned revisions, users will be informed of the number of revisions as well as the revision dates.

2. Revisions due to conceptual and/or methodological changes - Methodological changes can have systematic effects on the statistics. Concepts, definitions or classifications can be changed in order to better capture the target variables. In case of such changes, and if deemed necessary and possible, revisions of earlier final data can be made in order to produce comparable time series. Users will be informed of revisions of this kind in advance, with an explanation of why the revision is necessary.

3. Corrections - In case of errors in published data, corrections can be made. When an error has been identified, the need for correction is evaluated without delay based on the magnitude of the error and the importance of the statistics. Corrections are always published in a clear and easily accessible manner, with information on why the correction is necessary.

Not requested.

Not requested.

Several separate activities are used for the collection of raw data or pre-compiled administrative data and statistics related to R&D. For simplicity, we call them surveys irrespective of whether they are sample surveys, censuses, collections of administrative data/pre-compiled statistics. This section presents the names of the surveys by sector of performance as well as methodological information for each survey. Depending on the type of survey and sector of performance, only the sections corresponding to that survey and sector are filled in.

See 12.3.3.

See below.

Several measures are taken to ensure data validation. Data validation are done both at a micro and macro level. Micro validation measures consists of internal and external controls in the questionnaires to check for any reporting inconsistencies and missing values (item non-response). Individual examination of large R&D performers is also done. Respondents are re-contacted to verify these inconsistencies and missing values. Data validation on a macro level consists of evaluating macrodata, totals and by requested breakdowns, comparing against previous years.

See below.

0,6 %

Not requested.

Not requested.