1.1. Contact organisation
Statistics Asutria
1.2. Contact organisation unit
Directorate Social Statistics
Research and Digitalisation Unit
1.3. Contact name
Restricted from publication
1.4. Contact person function
Restricted from publication
1.5. Contact mail address
Guglgasse 13
1110 Wien
Austria
1.6. Contact email address
Restricted from publication
1.7. Contact phone number
Restricted from publication
1.8. Contact fax number
Not required.
2.1. Metadata last certified
8 October 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
8 October 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
8 October 2025
3.1. Data description
Statistics on Private non-profit R&D (PNPRD) measure research and experimental development (R&D) performed in the private non-profit 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 private non-profit 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.
The 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 Eurostat’s European Business Statistics Methodological Manual on R&D Statistics (EBS Methodological Manual on R&D Statistics)..
The guiding document to preparing the quality reports is the European Statistical System (ESS) Handbook for Quality and Metadata Reports — re-edition 2021.
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.
3.2. Classification system
- The distribution of principal economic activity and by product field is based on Statistical classification of economic activities in the European Community (NACE Rev. 2);
- 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 based on Classification and distribution by Fields of Research and Development (FORD);
- The R&D personnel and researchers by educational attainment are classified by the International Standard Classification of Education ISCED 2011
3.3. Coverage - sector
See below.
3.3.1. General coverage
Definition of R&D
R&D comprise creative and systematic work undertaken in order to increase the stock of knowledge - including knowledge of humankind, culture and society - and to devise new applications of available knowledge.
3.3.2. Sector institutional coverage
| Private non-profit sector | All non-profit institutions serving households are included. |
|---|---|
| Inclusion of units that primarily do not belong to PNP and the borderline cases | Not applicable. |
3.3.3. R&D variable coverage
| R&D administration and other support activities | Corresponds to Frascati Manual. Included in the "overhead costs". |
|---|---|
| External R&D personnel | Included in headcount and FTEs, costs for external personnel included in other current costs.
|
| Clinical trials: compliance with the recommendations in Frascati Manual §2.61. | Included, phase 1-3. Listed in explanatory notes, but hardly relevant for the PNP sector. |
3.3.4. International R&D transactions
| Receipts from rest of the world by sector - availability | In the question on financing of R&D the following categories can be distinguished: |
|---|---|
| Payments to rest of the world by sector - availability | No information on payments to abroad is available. |
3.3.5. Extramural R&D expenditures
According to the Frascati Manual (FM), 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).
| Data collection on extramural R&D expenditure (Yes/No) | No |
|---|---|
| Method for separating extramural R&D expenditure from intramural R&D expenditure | Not applicable. |
| Difficulties to distinguish intramural from extramural R&D expenditure | Not applicable. |
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
See below.
3.4.1. R&D expenditure
| Coverage of years | Calendar years. |
|---|---|
| Source of funds | The following sources of funds can be distinguished: by BES, by government sector (sub-classification: by “Bund” (federal government), by “Laender” (regional governments), by “Gemeinden” (local governments), by other public funding), by HES, by PNP, by abroad (sub-classification: by EU, by international organisations, by foreign enterprises of the same enterprise group, by foreign enterprises, by other foreign sources). For national purposes an even more detailed breakdown is available. Internal/external funds and transfers/grants cannot be distinguished. |
| Type of R&D | All 3 types of R&D are asked. |
| Type of costs | These four types of costs are distinguished: Labour costs; other current costs (incl. costs for external R&D personnel); instruments and equipment (incl. capitalised computer software, intellectual property products); land and buildings. |
| Defence R&D - method for obtaining data on R&D expenditure | Defence GERD available for reference years for all sectors of performance. In PNP, each statistical unit is classified into one socio-economic objective according to the weighting given by them for their research projects. Defence R&D is quantitatively negligible. |
3.4.2. R&D personnel
See below.
3.4.2.1. R&D personnel – Head Counts (HC)
| Coverage of years | Total number of persons employed during the calendar year. |
|---|---|
| Function | Distinction between researchers, technicians and other support staff. No problems encountered. |
| Qualification | All personnel attributed to the occupational categories “researchers” and “technicians” are classified by formal qualification (in terms of the Frascati categories, in full conformity with ISCED-11). Distinctions can be made between ISCED levels 8, 7, 6, 5 and 4 and below. More detailed breakdown available. For the category “other support staff”, no information on formal qualification is available; R&D personnel of this category is attributed to the qualification category “other qualifications" (ISCED 4 and below). |
| Age | Available (for "researchers" and "technicians" only). |
| Citizenship | Not asked. |
3.4.2.2. R&D personnel – Full Time Equivalent (FTE)
| Coverage of years | Total number of persons employed during the calendar year. |
|---|---|
| Function | Distinction between researchers, technicians and support staff. FTEs are calculated according to the information given by the respondent in the time-use survey. No problems encountered. |
| Qualification | All personnel attributed to the occupational categories “researchers” and “technicians” are classified by formal qualification (in terms of the Frascati categories, in full conformity with ISCED-11). Distinction can be made between ISCED levels 8, 7, 6, 5 and 4 and below. More detailed breakdown available. For the category “other supporting staff”, no information on formal qualification is available; R&D personnel of this category is attributed to the qualification category “other qualifications" (ISCED 4 and below). |
| Age | Available (for "researchers" and "technicians" only). |
| Citizenship | Not available. |
3.4.2.3. FTE calculation
Every individual involved in R&D (internal and external personnel, but only as researchers and technicians) is subject to a time-use survey, similar to the one in GOV. According to the distribution of working time between administration, R&D and other activities, FTEs for R&D are calculated for each individual.
3.5. Statistical unit
The statistical unit is the institutional unit as defined by Council Regulation (EEC) No 1993/696 of 15 March 1993.
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 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 PNP 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.
| Target population when sample/census survey is used for collection of raw data | Target population when administrative data or pre-compiled statistics are used | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition of the national target population | Target populartion contains all non-profit institutions serving households that are known or supposed to perform R&D | |
| Estimation of the target population size | 272 units. |
3.7. Reference area
Not requested. R&D statistics cover national and regional data.
3.8. Coverage - Time
Not requested. See concept 12.3.2. (data availability).
3.9. Base period
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 is published in the following units: Euro (MIO_EUR) and Euro per inhabitant (EUR_HAB); data are available in the following units: basic unit National currency (MIO_NAC); Purchasing Power Standard (MIO_PPS); Purchasing Power Standard at 2005 prices (MIO_PPS_KP05); Purchasing Power Standard per inhabitant at constant 2005 prices (PPS_HAB_KP05); Percentage of gross domestic product (PC_GDP); and Percentage of total R&D expenditure (PC_TOT - for the breakdown by source of funds).
R&D personnel data are published in full-time equivalent (FTE), in head count (HC), as a percentage of total employment and as a percentage of active population.
2023
See below.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
See below.
6.1.1. European legislation
Legal acts / agreements:
Since the beginning of 2021, the collection of R&D statistics is based on the 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. The transmission of R&D data is mandatory for Member States and EEA countries.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2012/995 concerning the production and development of Community statistics on science and technology was in force until the end of 2020.
6.1.2. National legislation
| Existence of R&D specific statistical legislation | Specific R&D statistics regulation exists: Verordnung der Bundesministerin für Bildung, Wissenschaft und Kultur, des Bundesministers für Verkehr, Innovation und Technologie und des Bundesministers für Wirtschaft und Arbeit über Statistiken betreffend Forschung und experimentelle Entwicklung (F&E-Statistik-Verordnung) vom 29. August 2003, BGBl. II Nr. 396/2003; Verordnung des Bundesministers für Wissenschaft und Forschung, des Bundesministers für Verkehr, Innovation und Technologie und des Bundesministers für Wirtschaft und Arbeit, mit der die Verordnung über Statistiken betreffend Forschung und experimentelle Entwicklung (F&E-Statistik-Verordnung) geändert wird vom 8. Mai 2008, BGBl. II Nr. 150/2008 |
|---|---|
| Are respondents obliged by the national law to provide raw and administrative data: | Yes |
6.1.3. Standards and manuals
- Frascati Manual 2015, Guidelines for Collecting and Reporting Data on Research and Experimental Development
- European Business Statistics Methodological Manual on R&D
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not requested.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
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.
At the level of the ESS the EU regulation 223/2009 on European statistics defines confidential data as data which allows statistical units (respondents) to be identified, either directly - by formal identifiers such as respondents’ names, addresses, identification numbers - or indirectly - by using a combination of variables or characteristics such as age, gender, education - thereby disclosing individual information (see Article 2(1)(e) of regulation 223/2009).
At national level:
a) Confidentiality protection required by law:
Law on Federal Statistics:
Consolidates Statistics Act - Federal Statistics Act 2000
According to national law, data may only be published in a way that no conclusions on individual units can be drawn. In practice, data for aggregates (e.g. FORD classes) where less than 3 units contribute to the figure are not published.
b) Confidentiality commitments of survey staff:
Every individual staff member is obliged by internal rules to a strictly confidential treatment of information about individual units.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Categories (NUTS2 regions, fields of research etc.) containing information from less than 3 units cannot be disclosed (primary confidentiality). In order to prevent identification of these cells by simple subtractions from totals, at least one additional cell needs to be suppressed (secondary confidentiality).
8.1. Release calendar
R&D data of PNP 2023 was published nationally on 15 July 2025.
The date of the publication is announced beforehand, and the release calendar is available on the website of Statistics Austria.
8.2. Release calendar access
For Eurostat this is: Release calendar - Eurostat (europa.eu)
At national level this is:
Veröffentlichungskalender (German)
Release calendar (English)
8.3. Release policy - user access
Data releases are announced in the official “release calendar” on Statistics Austria’s website. Data releases can have several forms: press conferences, press releases, tables on the website, written reports or a mix of those means. Usually all users are treated equally and receive information at the same time. In exceptional cases, for highly important statistics, this rule might be suspended when the Federal Chancellary ("Prime Minister´s Office") can be informed shortly beforehand (one day before); in such cases, this is publicly announced.
The frequency of R&D data dissemination at Eurostat level is yearly for provisional and final data.
At national level final R&D data from R&D surveys is disseminated every two years. Provisional data is disseminated yearly in the second half of April.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
See below.
10.1.1. Availability of the releases
| Availability (Y/N)1) | Links | |
|---|---|---|
| Regular releases | Y | Globalschaetzung |
| 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) | Links |
|---|---|---|
| General publication/article | Y | R&D in the government sector and in the private non profit sector |
| Specific paper publication (e.g. sectoral provided to enterprises) | Y | R&D data for all sectors |
1) Y – Yes, N - No
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
Statcube: STATcube
10.3.1. Data tables - consultations
Not requested.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
As Eurostat receives no R&D micro-data from the reporting countries, users should contact directly the respective national statistical institute (NSI) for access to the micro-data.
10.4.1. Provisions affecting the access
| Access rights to the micro-data | Micro-data access for research purposes is possible via the Austrian Micro-Data Center located at Statistics Austria. The accessing party needs to be an acknowledged research organisation and apply for access via a detailed project description. |
|---|---|
| Access cost policy | There is a fee to access the micro-data that is individual to each research project. |
| Micro-data anonymisation rules | Micro-data sets are stored with all variables, except name and address and other direct identifiers. Researchers receive in their individual micro-data set only those variables which are required for their analyses. Before the analyses done by the researcher can be extracted from the AMDC, a check is done if confidentiality rules were respected in the aggregated results. |
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 | Y | Aggregate figures. | R&D data for all sectors |
| Data prepared for individual ad hoc requests | Y | Aggregate figures. | Individual ad hoc requests are frequent, mostly not free of costs and from various user types, often from research institutes using data for policy advice. |
| Other | N |
1) Y – Yes, N - No
10.6. Documentation on methodology
A national quality report ("Standarddokumentation") is available on the website of Statistics Austria, in chapter "Dokumentationen", "Standarddokumentationen"
An Executive summary of the quality report is available in English, in chapter "Documentation" and "Standard documentation"
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, quality reports, etc.) | Detailed quality report under „Dokumentationen“ and „Standarddokumentation“ (in German) Executive summary of the quality report under „Documentation“ and „Standard documentation“ |
|---|---|
| Requests on further clarification, most problematic issues | There are no specific points which require regular attention vis a vis the users. It appears that the long-standing stable concept of R&D statistics is supportive of that. |
11.1. Quality assurance
At Eurostat level, the common quality framework of the European Statistical System (ESS) is composed of the European Statistics Code of Practice, the Quality Assurance Framework of the ESS, and the general quality management principles (such as continuous interaction with users, continuous improvement, integration, and harmonisation).
Statistics Austria as an organisation is committed to a series of quality guidelines which are summed up on the website:
Statistic Austria's quality guidelines
The R&D survey is conducted by highly qualified staff with a high expertise in R&D statistics. The web questionnaire contains a large number of automatic plausibility checks. Two written reminders are sent to the institutions, and extensions to deadlines are quite generously granted to respondents. A telephone hotline is available for clarifications. Institutions are re-contacted when missing or implausible data are reported. After the data collection another round of plausibility checks is carried out.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Due to the implementation of a compulsory survey with relatively high response rates (2023: 94.8%) and the intensive follow-up activities to guarantee a very high data quality, the overall quality of the R&D data is very good. The methodological measures taken are in compliance with the Frascati manual recommendations. The high response rates are also due to up to 2 follow-up contacts with the respondents.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
See below.
12.1.1. Needs at national level
| Users’ class1) | Description of users | Users’ needs |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | National ministries responsible for research policy: BMFWF, BMWET, BMIMI. | |
| 1 | Eurostat | |
| 4 | Researchers, policy advisors compiling studies for public institutions | |
| 1 | Regional governments | Regional R&D data |
| 1 | OECD |
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 | Between November 2024 and January 2025 a user satisfaction survey on all products of Statistics Austria was conducted among 327 users and experts. 4 questions on the topics "Research, Innovation, Digitalisation" were posed to 97 individuals who were identified as users of those statistics fields, with the following results: Percentage of users assessing the following dimensions with "very good" or "good": Timeliness: 80% Accuracy: 78% Comparability: 72% Quality: 74% |
|---|---|
| User satisfaction survey specific for R&D statistics | No specific user satisfaction survey for R&D statistics is undertaken. |
| Short description of the feedback received |
12.3. Completeness
See below.
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
100%
12.3.2. Data availability
Share of PNP R&D expenditure in GERD (Gross Domestic Expenditure on R&D): 0.5%
12.3.2.1. Incorporation of PNP sector in another sector
| Incorporation of PNP in another sector | No, PNP is a separate sector. |
|---|---|
| Reasons for not producing separate R&D statistics for the PNP sector | Not applicable. |
| Share of PNP expenditure in the total expenditure of the other sector | Not applicable. |
| Share of PNP R&D Personnel in the respective figure of the other sector | Not applicable. |
12.3.2.2. Non-collection of R&D data for the PNP sector
| Reasons for not compiling R&D statistics for the PNP sector | Does not apply. |
|---|---|
| PNP R&D expenditure/ GERD*100) | 0.5% |
| Share of PNP R&D Personnel in the respective figure of the total national economy | 0.7% of total FTE in R&D |
12.3.2.3. Data availability on more detail level
| Additional dimension/variable available at national level1) | Availability2) | Frequency of data collection | Breakdown variables | Combinations of breakdown variables | Level of detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not details given. | Not details given. | Not details given. | Not details given. | Not details given. | Not details given. |
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
12.3.2.4. R&D personnel - Cross-classification by function and qualification (if available in FTE and HC)
| Cross-classification | Unit | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Function x sex x qualification available | Headcounts, FTE | 1998, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023 |
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.
13.2. Sampling error
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.
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
Confidence interval for Total R&D expenditure: Not applicable.
Confidence interval for Total R&D personnel (FTE): Not applicable.
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.
a) Extent of non-sampling errors: No such errors known.
b) Measures taken to reduce the extent of non-sampling errors: Not applicable.
c) Methods used in order to correct/adjust for such errors: Not applicable.
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.
13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate
Not requested.
13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion
Not requested.
13.3.2. Measurement error
Not requested.
13.3.3. Non response error
Not requested.
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
Not requested.
13.3.5. Model assumption error
Not requested.
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
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: 31 December 2023
b) Date of first release of national data: No preliminary data were published
c) Lag (days):
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
a) End of reference period: 31 December 2023
b) Date of first release of national data: 15 July 2025
c) Lag (days): 562 days
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)
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) | 10 | 18 |
| Actual date of transmission of the data (T+x months) | 10 | 18.5 |
| Delay (days) | 0 | 16 |
| Reasoning for delay | A combination of different internal restraints led to the delay. |
15.1. Comparability - geographical
See below.
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not requested.
15.1.2. General issues of comparability
No issues of comparability known.
15.1.3. Survey Concepts Issues
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 or Frascati manual (FM) paragraphs and the EBS Methodological Manual on R&D Statistics with recommendations about these concepts / issues.
| Concept / Issues | Reference to recommendations | Deviation from recommendations | Comments on national definition / Treatment – deviations from recommendations |
|---|---|---|---|
| R&D personnel | FM2015 Chapter 5 (mainly sub-chapter 5.2). | No | Internal and external personnel included |
| Researcher | FM2015, § 5.35-5.39. | No | |
| Approach to obtaining Headcount (HC) data | FM2015, § 5.58-5.61 (in combination with Eurostat's EBS Methodological Manual on R&D Statistics). | No | Total number of persons engaged in R&D during the (calendar) year |
| Reporting data according to formula: Total R&D personnel = Internal R&D personnel + External R&D personnel | FM2015, §5.25 | No | No distinction possible between internal and external personnel |
| Approach to obtaining FTE data | FM2015, § 5.49-5.57 (in combination with Eurostat's EBS Methodological Manual on R&D Statistics). | No | The "fixed-date"-approach is not used. All personnel in FTE is collected, regardless if the staff is still working in the institution at the end of the reference period |
| Intramural R&D expenditure | FM2015,Chapter 4 (mainly sub-chapter 4.2). | No | |
| Statistical unit | FM2015, § 10.40-10.42 (in combination with Eurostat's EBS Methodological Manual on R&D Statistics). | No | |
| Target population | FM2015, § 10.40-10.42 ((in combination with Eurostat's EBS Methodological Manual on R&D Statistics). | No | |
| Sector coverage | FM2015, § 10.2-10.8 ((in combination with Eurostat's EBS Methodological Manual on R&D Statistics). | No | |
| Reference period for the main data | Reg. 2020/1197: Annex 1, Table 18 | No | |
| Reference period for all data | Reg. 2020/1197: Annex 1, Table 18 | No |
15.1.4. Deviations from recommendations
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.
| Methodological issues | Reference to recommendations | Deviation from recommendations | Comments on national treatment / treatment deviations from recommendations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data collection method | FM2015 Chapter 10 (mainly sub-chapter 10.6). | No | Web questionnaire, alternatively if requested a pdf questionnaire could be sent by E-Mail. One questionnaire for the statistical unit, one for each individual staff member. |
| Survey questionnaire / data collection form | FM2015 Chapter 10 (mainly sub-chapter 10.6). | No | Statistical units receive login details for the survey by ordinary mail, so they can use the web questionnaire. E-mail addresses and telephone numbers of persons responsible at Statistics Austria are provided for assistance. Online explanatory notes provide definitions. Respondents are offered at least 2 extensions in time if they cannot provide the data within the set deadline. |
| Cooperation with respondents | FM2015 Chapter 10 (mainly sub-chapter 10.6). | No | E-mail addresses and telephone numbers of persons responsible at Statistics Austria are provided for assistance. Explanatory notes provide definitions. Respondents are offered at least 2 extensions in time if they cannot provide the data within the set deadline. |
| Data processing methods | FM2015 Chapter 10 (mainly sub-chapter 10.6). | No | After follow-up action and contacting the units to clarify missing or unclear data, plausibility checks are carried out and missing items are imputed (few cases). |
| Treatment of non-response | FM2015 Chapter 10 (mainly sub-chapter 10.6). | No | Almost no unit non-response. Item-non-responses trigger contacts with the unit; if not successful, records of the previous survey are used or expert estimations are made by using comparable data from similar units (few cases). |
| Data compilation of final and preliminary data | Reg. 2020/1197: Annex 1, Table 18 | No | Final data for uneven reference years are results from R&D surveys in the GOV. Final data for even reference years and all preliminary data are estimated. |
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| R&D personnel (HC) | from 1998 | ||
| Function | from 1998 | ||
| Qualification | from 1998 | ||
| R&D personnel (FTE) | from 1998 | ||
| Function | from 1998 | ||
| Qualification | from 1998 | ||
| R&D expenditure | from 1998 | ||
| Source of funds | from 1998 | ||
| Type of costs | from 1998 | ||
| Type of R&D | from 1998 | ||
| Other |
1) Breaks years are years for which data are not fully comparable to the previous period.
15.2.3. Collection of data in the even years
Data produced on even calendar years are estimated, as a comprehensive R&D survey is only carried out every two years about uneven calendar years.
Estimate for PNPRD 2022: Annually in April, Statistics Austria carries out the so-called “Global Estimate of Gross Domestic Expenditure on R&D” (“Globalschaetzung der Bruttoinlandsausgaben für F&E”). Based on detailed budget analyses and further information from different available sources at this time of the year, an estimate is made for GERD by source of funds for the current calendar year and for the years before. In April 2024, there were data from the R&D survey 2021 available. For estimating the indicators for 2022 requested by the regulation, an estimate was made based on the survey results 2021 and budget analyses of 2022 (as well as for 2023 and 2024). Further economic information was used, such as GDP trends.
The distribution of R&D expenditures between the 4 sectors was kept stable compared to 2021.
Taking into account the elasticity of the growth rates of total R&D expenditure and total R&D personnel in FTE from the years 2019 to 2021, an estimate was made for the growth rate of the total R&D personnel in FTE using the growth rate of the total R&D expenditure from 2019 to 2021. The distribution of the R&D personnel by sector of performance was kept stable compared to 2021. The share of researchers among the total R&D personnel was also unchanged compared to the results from the R&D survey 2021.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
See below.
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
Not requested.
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
Micro-data from the R&D survey of all sectors of performance are made available to National Accounts statistics.
R&D data are used for the SNA calculation of self-produced R&D investment in the SNA sectors S11, S12 and S15. R&D data on current expenditure are used precisely for the estimation of intermediate consumption and compensation on employees as cost components of R&D investment. R&D data on capital expenditures are used to estimate depreciation with the help of a PIM method. Depreciation on the capital stock used to produce R&D is a further cost component of R&D investment. Own account R&D of the Government Sector S13 is calculated using Government Statistics by COFOG, the classification of government expenditure by function. However, Government Statistics on return uses information of R&D statistics. Concerning purchased R&D investment, R&D Data on extramural expenditure and on R&D financed by abroad is used among several other data sources like for example BoP Statistics.
15.4. Coherence - internal
See below.
15.4.1. Comparison between preliminary and final data
This part compares key R&D variables as preliminary and final data.
| Total PNP R&D expenditure (in 1000 of national currency) | Total PNP R&D personnel (in FTEs) | Total number of PNP researchers (in FTEs) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary data (delivered at T+10) | 77,931 | 743 | 531 |
| Final data (delivered T+18) | 84,215 | 685.4 | 555.6 |
| Difference (of final data) | 6,284 (7.5%) | 57.6 (8.4%) | 24.6 (4.4%) |
Comments:
....
15.4.2. Consistency between R&D personnel and expenditure
| Average remuneration per year (cost in national currency) | Explanation of consistency issues if any |
|
|---|---|---|
| Consistency between FTEs of internal R&D personnel and R&D labour costs (1) | 69,400 | 69,400 € labour costs per FTE (47,577 mn €/685.4 FTE). The number of FTEs used for calculation, however, also includes external R&D personnel. The share of external R&D personnel is considered very low. |
| Consistency between FTEs of external R&D personnel and other current costs for external R&D personnel (2) | Not applicable. No distinction between internal and external R&D personnel available. |
(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.
16.1. Costs summary
| Costs for the statistical authority (in national currency) | Cost for the NSI in time use/person/day | |
|---|---|---|
| Staff costs | Not separately available. | |
| Data collection costs | Not separately available. | |
| Other costs | Not separately available. | |
| Total costs | Not separately available. |
1) The shares of the figures given in the first column that are accounted for by payments to private firms or other Government agencies.
Comments on costs:
Information available includes all work done on "R&D statistics (except the BES)" (not restricted to survey work) that comprises many more activities than carrying out surveys. Furthermore, as the majority of indicators collected in the survey are requested by the European legislation, but not all, a split between working time spent for national and/or European purposes would be impossible.
16.2. Components of burden and description of how these estimates were reached
| Value | Computation method | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Respondents (R) | 258 | Number of units with a response. |
| Average Time required to complete the questionnaire in hours (T)1) | Not known. | |
| Average hourly cost (in national currency) of a respondent (C) | Impossible to quantify. | |
| Total cost | Not known. |
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
Not requested.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Not requested.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
Not requested.
18.1. Source data
Several separate activities are used for the collection of raw data or pre-compiled administrative data and statistics related to R&D. This section collects information on the type of data collection instruments used as well as methodological information for each data collection instrument. Depending on the type of data collection instrument used, only the sections corresponding to that data collection instrument are filled in.
18.1.1. Data source – general information
PNP R&D data is collected by a mandatory web survey among all potential R&D performers. For 2023, 272 units were included in the R&D survey. As the survey is a census of all known or supposed R&D performer, no grossing-up of the data was made. Therefore no stratification variables or classes were needed.
18.1.2. Sample/census survey information
| Sampling unit | Institutional units of various kinds in the private non-profit sector |
|---|---|
| Stratification variables (if any - for sample surveys only) | Not applicable. |
| Stratification variable classes | Not applicable. |
| Population size | 272 |
| Planned sample size | 272 |
| Sample selection mechanism (for sample surveys only) | Not applicable. |
| Survey frame | List of known or supposed R&D performing units which is kept, maintained and updated in R&D statistics department. |
| Sample design | Census among all known or supposed R&D performers in the PNP sector. |
| Sample size | 272 |
| Survey frame quality | Good. List is compiled and maintained using available information sources such as lists of institutions receiving public funding. |
| Variables the survey contributes to | R&D expenditures, R&D personnel and ist sub-classifications |
18.1.3. Information on collection of administrative data or of pre-compiled statistics
| Source | Not applicable. |
|---|---|
| Description of collected data / statistics | |
| Reference period, in relation to the variables the administrative source contributes to | |
| Variables the administrative source contributes to |
18.2. Frequency of data collection
See 12.3.2.
18.3. Data collection
See below.
18.3.1. Data collection overview
| Information provider | Statistical unit
|
|---|---|
| Description of collected information | Units: Fields of research, information concerning socio-economic objectives of R&D performed (“R&D projects”), type of R&D, number of employed persons, annual gross wages, costs for contributions of the employer (such as social security costs), all associated costs, all current costs, all capital costs, total expenditure (financed by various sources of funds), total expenditure for R&D by source of funds Individual staff members of the units (researchers, technicians and equivalent staff): Qualification, extent of employment, time-use (R&D, administration, other), gross annual wage, sex, age. Qualification, age and time-use are not asked for support staff. Data from wage tax statistics are used for plausibility checks of the collected data on wages or to impute item non-response. |
| Data collection method | All units receive a web questionnaire with questions for the statistical unit. For all employees there has to be filled out an excel questionnaire, that van be uploaded in the web questionnaire All units have received login details for the web questionnaires for the unit and for the individual staff member. Respondents had the choices of reporting via Web questionnaire, via postal mail (printed pdf questionnaires), via e-mail (sending in Excel or pdf files) or via a specific secure server system. Reporting "no R&D" could also be done by telephone; 81% have reported via web questionnaire, 4% by e-mail, 1% by paper questionnaires, 7% by telephone. The different reporting modes are due to different informal agreements with different long-standing respondents. |
| Time-use surveys for the calculation of R&D coefficients | Each researcher and technician has to report a time-use in 2023 between "Administration", "R&D" and "Other activities". This information is used to calculate R&D expenditures and FTEs for R&D. |
| Realised sample size (per stratum) | 272 |
| Mode of data collection (face-to-face interviews; telephone interviews; postal surveys, etc.) | Web survey. Alternatively, e-mail data delivery or a paper questionnaire are offered. |
| Incentives used for increasing response | Mandatory survey. No incentives used. |
| Follow-up of non-respondents | 2 written reminders. Intensive follow-up activities, such as contacting the units because of missing or unreliable information. |
| Replacement of non-respondents (e.g. if proxy interviewing is employed) | None. Non-respondents are, after careful checking, considered as units without R&D activities. |
| Response rate (ratio of completed "interviews" over total number of eligible enterprises or enterprises of unknown eligibility) | 94.9% |
| Non-response analysis (if applicable -- also see section 18.5. Data compilation - Weighting and Estimation methods) | Not applicable. |
18.3.2. Questionnaire and other documents
| Annex | Name of the file |
|---|---|
| R&D national questionnaire and explanatory notes in English: | Not available. |
| R&D national questionnaire and explanatory notes in the national language: | Questionnaire (German): FE23_Papierfragebogen_F3_DE.pdf FE23-F3-Pers-online.ods Explanatory notes (German): Erlaeuterungen_F3.pdf Austrian Classification of FORD (English): KDB_STR_OEFOS 2012_2025-10-06 13_12_26.968.pdf Keyword register of the Austrian Classification of FORD (German and English): OEFOS_2012_Alphabetikum_A_EN_20231113.pdf Austrian Classification of SEO (German): SOEZ.pdf |
| Other relevant documentation of national methodology in English: | |
| Other relevant documentation of national methodology in the national language: |
Annexes:
Questionnaire PNP
Questionnaire Personnel PNP
Explanatory notes PNP
Austrian Classification of FORD (english)
Keyword register Austrian Classification of FORD (German, English)
Austrian Classification of SEO (German)
18.4. Data validation
Response rates are checked regularly in the course of data collection in a database, so that postal and reminders by telephone can be done timely. For most units previous micro-data from the most recent survey is available and used for comparisons over time. If there are inconsistencies, data are checked, errors investigated and if there is no other way to correct the errors, the reporting unit is contacted. Only micro-data is edited, there is no editing on macro-data level.
At the end of data collection another round of plausibility checks is performed, for example outlier detection.
18.5. Data compilation
See below.
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
Imputation is the method of creating plausible (but artificial) substitute values for all those missing.
Definition:
Imputation rate (for the variable x) % = (Number of imputed records for the variable x) * 100/ (Total number of possible records for x)
18.5.2. Data compilation methods
| Data compilation method - Final data | R&D survey for uneven calendar years. For even calendar years estimation like for the preliminary data. |
|---|---|
| Data compilation method - Preliminary data | Data is estimated as described in 15.2.3 Estimate for PNPRD 2023: Annually in April, Statistics Austria carries out the so-called “Global Estimate of Gross Domestic Expenditure on R&D” (“Globalschaetzung der Bruttoinlandsausgaben für F&E”). Based on detailed budget analyses and further information from different available sources at this time of the year, an estimate is made for GERD by source of funds for the current calendar year and for previous years. In April 2024, there were data from the R&D survey 2021 available. For estimating the preliminary variables for 2023 requested by the regulation, an estimate was made based on the survey results 2021 and budget analyses for 2022 and 2023. The distribution of R&D expenditures between the 4 sectors was kept stable compared to 2021. Taking into account the elasticity of the growth rates of total R&D expenditure and total R&D personnel in FTE from the years 2019 to 2021, an estimate was made for the growth rate of the total R&D personnel in FTE using the growth rate of the total R&D expenditure from 2019 to 2021. The distribution of the R&D personnel by sector of performance was kept stable compared to 2021. The share of researchers among the total R&D personnel was also unchanged compared to the results from the R&D survey 2021. |
18.5.3. Measurement issues
| Method of derivation of regional data | Units are classified by the region of their main location. In PNP, there is practically no unit carrying out R&D in another region than that of the main location. |
|---|---|
| Coefficients used for estimation of the R&D share of more general expenditure items | Not applicable. |
| Inclusion or exclusion of VAT and provisions for depreciation in the measurement of expenditures | Depreciation and VAT are excluded from R&D expenditure. |
18.5.4. Weighting and estimation methods
| Description of weighting method | No grossing-up is made, each unit receives a "weight" of "1.0". |
|---|---|
| Description of the estimation method | Does not apply. |
18.6. Adjustment
Not requested.
18.6.1. Seasonal adjustment
Not requested.
No comments.
Statistics on Private non-profit R&D (PNPRD) measure research and experimental development (R&D) performed in the private non-profit 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 private non-profit 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.
The 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 Eurostat’s European Business Statistics Methodological Manual on R&D Statistics (EBS Methodological Manual on R&D Statistics)..
The guiding document to preparing the quality reports is the European Statistical System (ESS) Handbook for Quality and Metadata Reports — re-edition 2021.
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.
8 October 2025
See below.
The statistical unit is the institutional unit as defined by Council Regulation (EEC) No 1993/696 of 15 March 1993.
See below.
Not requested. R&D statistics cover national and regional data.
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.
R&D expenditure is published in the following units: Euro (MIO_EUR) and Euro per inhabitant (EUR_HAB); data are available in the following units: basic unit National currency (MIO_NAC); Purchasing Power Standard (MIO_PPS); Purchasing Power Standard at 2005 prices (MIO_PPS_KP05); Purchasing Power Standard per inhabitant at constant 2005 prices (PPS_HAB_KP05); Percentage of gross domestic product (PC_GDP); and Percentage of total R&D expenditure (PC_TOT - for the breakdown by source of funds).
R&D personnel data are published in full-time equivalent (FTE), in head count (HC), as a percentage of total employment and as a percentage of active population.
See below.
Several separate activities are used for the collection of raw data or pre-compiled administrative data and statistics related to R&D. This section collects information on the type of data collection instruments used as well as methodological information for each data collection instrument. Depending on the type of data collection instrument used, only the sections corresponding to that data collection instrument are filled in.
The frequency of R&D data dissemination at Eurostat level is yearly for provisional and final data.
At national level final R&D data from R&D surveys is disseminated every two years. Provisional data is disseminated yearly in the second half of April.
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.
