In 2020, the Member States of the EU spent around €311 billion on research & development (R&D). This is a decrease of €1 billion compared with 2019 (€312 billion). The R&D intensity, i.e. R&D expenditure as a percentage of GDP, stood at 2.3% in 2020, compared with 2.2% in 2019. However, this small increase is due to a decrease in GDP as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ten years earlier (2010), R&D intensity was 2.0%. R&D is a major driver of innovation, and R&D expenditure and intensity are two of the key indicators used to monitor resources devoted to science and technology worldwide. The business enterprise sector continues to be the main sector in which R&D expenditure was spent, accounting for 66% of total R&D disbursed in 2020, followed by the higher education sector (22%), the government sector (12%) and the private non-profit sector (1%; data might not add up to 100% due to rounding). This information comes from data on R&D expenditure published by Eurostat today. In 2020, the highest R&D intensity was recorded in Belgium and Sweden (3.5% of GDP), followed by Austria (3.2%) and Germany (3.1%). At the opposite end of the scale, six Member States recorded a R&D intensity below 1% of GDP: Romania (0.5%), Malta and Latvia (both 0.7%), Cyprus, Bulgaria and Slovakia (all 0.9%). Over the last ten years, R&D intensity rose in 24 Member States, with the highest increase recorded in Belgium (+1.5 percentage points; from 2.0% of GDP in 2010 to 3.5% in 2020), Greece (+0.9 pp; from 0.6% to 1.5%), Poland and Czechia (both +0.7 pp; from 0.7% to 1.4% and from 1.3% to 2.0%, respectively). In contrast, R&D intensity decreased in three Member States; Finland (-0.8 pp; from 3.7% to 2.9%), Ireland and Luxembourg (both -0.4 pp; from 1.6% to 1.2% and from 1.5% to 1.1%, respectively).
A lynx that had fallen into a well near Romania's Parângul Mare peak was rescued by mountain rescuers from Gorj County, who descended approximately 15 meters to retrieve the animal. After sedating the animal, the rescuers descended into the well, immobilized it, and brought it to the surface. The lynx was unharmed and was subsequently […]
The Romanian Gymnastics Federation announced on Wednesday, January 8, that athletes Ana Maria Bărbosu and Lilia Cosman will continue their studies in the United States. Bărbosu, 18, has been admitted to Stanford University, while Lilia Cosman, 17, will attend Michigan State University. Federation officials discussed the gymnasts’ training schedules and objectives with representatives from the […]
Authorities in Arad, western Romania, apprehended the first two migrants attempting to leave the country illegally after Romania’s full accession to the Schengen Area. The individuals, citizens of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, were found traveling on a bus heading to Germany. The two were uncovered after a random inspection by border police officers from the […]
Low-cost carrier Wizz Air said it would resume flights to Tel Aviv from Bucharest and Iași. Tickets can already be booked online via the airline’s website and app. Flights from Bucharest to Tel Aviv will be resumed on January 15, and from Iași starting March 25, the company announced. From Bucharest, flights will be operated […]
Starting in February, Dr. Beatrice Mahler, Associate Professor, will teach the first optional course on Narrative Medicine and Clinical Doctor-Patient Communication at the Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Bucharest, Agerpres reported. The course aims to rebuild trust between patients and...
Romania’s ailing state airline Tarom was recently ranked among the worst in the world by AirHelp, a company that specializes in obtaining compensation from airlines. The ranking, however, does not provide a complete methodology and includes a low number of airlines. Tarom appears along airlines such as Tunisair (Tunisia), Buzz (Poland), Nouvelair (Tunisia), Bulgaria Air […]
