Description:
This indicator monitors Scotland’s Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
GERD comprises Research and Development undertaken by the business, higher education, government and private non-profit sectors so GERD as a percentage of GDP serves as a general indicator of expenditure on R&D: a technical input to the innovation process.
This indicator monitors Scotland’s Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
GERD comprises Research and Development undertaken by the business, higher education, government and private non-profit sectors so GERD as a percentage of GDP serves as a general indicator of expenditure on R&D: a technical input to the innovation process.
Source of Data:
Data on the components of GERD in Scotland are published annually by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). These data are then published, in more detail, by the Scottish Government as part of its annual Gross Expenditure on R&D Scotland publication. Detail on the underlying sources for each component of GERD is available within the background notes of the Gross Expenditure on R&D Scotland publication.
Gross Expenditure on R&D Scotland is a National Statistics publication.
Definitions:
N/A.
Criteria for Change:
This evaluation is based on:
- any difference in the gap within +/- 0.05 percentage points of last year's figure suggests that the position is more likely to be maintaining than showing any change.
- A decrease in the gap of 0.05 percentage points or more suggests the position is improving.
- an increase of 0.05 percentage points or more suggests the position is worsening.
Future updates
We have put a pause on the updating of the ‘Spend on Research and Development (R&D)’ national indicator until more work can be carried out to quality assure the underlying source data.
This national indicator measures Scotland’s Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). GERD as a share of GDP is taken from the annual Scottish Government (SG) GERD publication. GERD includes R&D undertaken by business enterprise (BERD). The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has been leading a redevelopment project for R&D statistics. The first phase of the project concluded with the publication of the latest ONS Business Enterprise R&D (BERD) estimates, which reflect significant methodological changes. There is currently uncertainty over the robustness of the detailed breakdowns of the new BERD estimates, which includes the data for Scotland. The ONS have put a temporary pause on the National Statistics status of the detailed breakdowns of BERD until the second stage of the redevelopment project completes in 2023. The National Statistics status of the Scottish Government (SG) GERD publication has similarly been put on pause. More detail is available at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/gross-expenditure-on-research-and-development-scotland-2020/