Research and development in Italy

In 2012, in current price terms, Italy’s gross domestic expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) was 20.5 billion euro. It increased by 3.5% compared to 2011. In constant price terms, it increased by 1.9%.

GERD represented 1.26% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), updated according to the new system of national accounts (ESA 2010). There was an increase compared to 2011 (1.21%).

In current price terms business enterprise expenditure on R&D (BERD) increased by 2.6%, accounting for 54.2% of total R&D spent in 2012. Government’s expenditure on R&D grew by 14.6% (14.8% of total R&D spent in 2012). R&D expenditure in the higher education sector recorded an increase by 1.4% (28.0%). The private no profit sector decreased by 8.4% (3.0%).

Compared to 2011, current expenditure on intramural R&D rose in all geographical areas. In the North-West  area it was +1.8% and in the North-East +6.3%. In 2012 these two areas accounted for 60.6% of GERD. Increases were also recorded in Central Italy (+2.3%) and in the South and Islands area (+5.3%).

In 2012, the number of public and private employees involved in R&D activities (measured in terms of “full-time equivalent units”) amounted to 240,179 units; it increased by 5.3% compared to 2011.

R&D personnel increased in business enterprises (+6.8%), public institutions (+4.7%), private no profit institutions (+3.8%), the higher education sector (+3.4%).

The number of researchers (in terms of full-time equivalents) was 110,695 units, a 4.3%increase  compared to 2011.

Provisional data for 2013 showed a decrease in GERD both in current terms (-1.5% compared to 2012) and a decrease of 2.9% in constant price terms.

Provisional data for 2014 showed a decrease of 1.9% in public institutions and an increase of 1.4% in BERD (not available forecast data for the universities).

The Italy’s Government support for R&D activities, measured by the Government budget appropriations or outlay for R&D (GBAORD), amounting to 8.3 billion euro for 2013 (initial forecasts of expenditure), were down compared to the forecast expenditure settled in 2012 (8.8 billion euro).