1.1. Contact organisation
Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.
1.2. Contact organisation unit
E2: Environmental statistics and accounts; sustainable development.
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
e-mail contact: ESTAT-SDG-MONITORING@ec.europa.eu
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
24 April 20252.2. Metadata last posted
25 April 20252.3. Metadata last update
25 April 2025The indicator is part of the indicator sets EU Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) indicator set. It is used to monitor progress towards SDG 9 on building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and fostering innovation which is embedded in the European Commission’s 2024-2029 Priorities under 'A new era for European defence and security'.
SDG 9 calls for building resilient and sustainable infrastructure and promotes inclusive and sustainable industrialisation. It also recognises the importance of research and innovation for finding lasting solutions to social, economic and environmental challenges.
The indicator can be considered as identical to the global SDG indicator 9.5.1 "Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP".
A new vision for the European Research Area (ERA) aims to build a common scientific and technology area for the EU, by prioritising investments and reforms, improving access to excellence, translating research and innovation results into the economy and deepening the ERA. The EU has a long-standing objective of increasing its R&D intensity to 3 % of GDP, which was reaffirmed in a Council Recommendation on a Pact for Research and Innovation in Europe from November 2021.
4.1. Data description
The indicator measures gross domestic expenditure on R&D (GERD) as a percentage of the gross domestic product (GDP) — also called R&D intensity. The OECD’s Frascati Manual: Guidelines for Collecting and Reporting Data on Research and Experimental Development defines research and experimental development (R&D) as 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.
4.2. Unit of measure
% of GDP
4.3. Reference Period
Calendar year.
4.4. Accuracy - overall
The indicator is produced according to the quality standards of European Statistics. Details on accuracy can be found in the metadata of the source datasets (see link to related metadata).
4.5. Source data
4.5.1. Source data - Organisation
ESS
4.5.2. Source data - Comment
Data source: European Statistical System (ESS) (RD_E_GERDTOT)
Data provider: Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, based on data compiled by the national statistical authorities: National Statistical Offices, Research Councils and Ministries using data collected for public budgets. In some countries R&D budget text analysis are supplemented with additional information obtained from the national funding agencies/ministries or through statistical surveys.
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is data provider for the United States of America, Japan and South Korea.
5.1. Frequency of dissemination
5.1.1. Frequency of dissemination - Grade
Every year5.1.2. Frequency of dissemination - Comment
The indicator is updated annually. Complete and updated ESS data release information can be accessed via Eurostat release calendar.
5.2. Timeliness
5.2.1. Timeliness - Grade
T+1 year5.2.2. Timeliness - Comment
According to Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2019 on European business statistics and 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 preliminary data on R&D expenditure, R&D personnel and researchers in FTE are provided to Eurostat 10 months after the end of the calendar year (October) and are released in November.
Final R&D data are provided to Eurostat 18 months after the end of the calendar year (June) and are released in September of that year.
6.1. Reference area
6.1.1. Reference Area - Grade
All EU MS6.1.2. Reference Area - Comment
Data are presented for all EU Member States plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, the United States, Japan and South Korea.
6.2. Comparability - geographical
6.2.1. Comparability - geographical - Grade
All EU MS6.2.2. Comparability - geographical - Comment
R&D data are compiled by the countries following the guidelines and definitions outlined in the Frascati Manual (2015) and the Regional Manual. However, the data comparability across countries can be affected by different methods of the survey. Data for the United States excludes most of the capital expenditure, thus data for the US is likely to be underestimated.
6.3. Coverage - Time
6.3.1. Time Coverage - Grade
> 10 years6.3.2. Time Coverage - Comment
Presented time series (including EU aggregates) starts in 2000.
6.4. Comparability - over time
6.4.1. Comparability - over time - Grade
> 4 data points6.4.2. Comparability - over time - Comment
Length of comparable time series without methodological break is longer than 4 data points.
7.1. Dissemination format - Publications
Analysis of the indicator is presented in Eurostat's annual monitoring report on Sustainable development in the EU (progress towards SDGs in the EU context).
7.2. Dissemination format - online database
See table sdg_09_10
7.3. Dissemination format - other
Copyrights: Eurostat Copyright/Licence Policy is applicable.
