Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD has today welcomed the publication of two reports which showed record levels of spending on research and development in Ireland over the past three years.
The Research and Development Budget 2022, a report compiled from a comprehensive survey of government departments and agencies that are active in R&D, showed that Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD) increased to an estimated €4.7bn in 2021, which is the highest level since this survey began. This represents an estimated increase of 83% over the 2011 figure of €2.6bn.
The Higher Education Research and Development Survey (HERD), which is undertaken every two years among Ireland’s 21 publicly-funded higher education institutions (HEIs), revealed that total expenditure on R&D was €742.1 million in 2020, an increase of 7.8% over the last 2018 survey (€688.4m).
The HERD survey covers the academic year 2020-2021, and the R&D Budget survey covers 2021 and 2022.
Speaking today, Minister Harris said: “These two important surveys are widely used by the national authorities in research planning and resource allocation and I am pleased to see that the higher education sector continues to play such a vital role in R&D.
“The HERD figures are a testament to the vibrant research system in place. And when we look at Government R&D, it is encouraging to see the continued increase in the amount spent on R&D by the State in 2021, especially given the competing demands and continuing pressure on public finances.
“Ireland has a great national research and innovation system and we lead the way in several areas. We also know that we have much more to do to strengthen and support research and innovation in our higher education institutions, in our enterprises, and for our people. This ambition lies at the heart of Impact 2030, Ireland’s Research and Innovation Strategy.
“I will continue to work with my colleagues to build on our previous investment so that Ireland continues to be a leader in the translation of research into economic and societal impacts.”
The data in the Research and Development Budget 2022 publication are compiled from a comprehensive survey of government departments and agencies that are active in R&D, either by way of investment or activity.
The survey shows that:
- Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD) increased to an estimated €4,686m in 2021, which is the highest level since this survey began. This represents an estimated increase of 83% over the 2011 figure of €2,564m.
- There was an estimated total of 34,544 personnel (FTE) working in R&D across all the sectors of the economy in 2020. Of these R&D Personnel, 59% were working in the business sector.
- Over half (54%) of R&D personnel in the Government Sector were researchers in 2020 and the majority (54%) of those researchers were male. The percentage of female researchers was 46% in 2020 and 44% in 2019.
- In 2021, DFHERIS was responsible for the largest proportion of Government investment in R&D with €492m or 52% of total GBARD. This was followed by DETE with €238m or 25% of total GBARD and by DAFM with €97m or 10% of total GBARD.
The HERD survey shows that:
- The total number of full-time equivalent (FTE) researchers in 2020 was 11,821, an increase of 26% over 2018.
- Ireland ranked 10th out of 32 OECD countries on headcount researchers per 1,000 of the labour force in 2018.
- In respect to female researchers in the higher education sector, Ireland has been steadily moving up in the last ten years, ranking 8th out of 31 OECD countries in 2020.
- The percentage of HERD financed by Industry increased from 5.5% in 2018 to 6.2% in 2020. This totalled €46m, narrowly short of the Innovation 2020 target of doubling private funding of publicly performed R&D to €48m per annum by 2020. This target had been reached in 2018 where private investment amounted to €48m.
- Pay costs increased by 12% between 2018 and 2020 while non-pay costs decreased by 4%.
Read the R&D Budget survey
Read the HERD survey
ENDS
Notes to the Editor
A standardised methodology for calculating the research expenditure component of the HEA’s recurrent grant (Indirect HERD) was introduced in the 2020 survey with a view to improving the consistency and reliability of the data among the institutions.
For comparability purposes, 2018 financial data were also revised using the new methodology. This review had the effect of revising the 2018 HERD figure downward from the originally published €876m to €688m.
This does not mean that the HEIs incurred a reduction in funding levels. HERD totals pre-2018 are higher because they include research expenditure that was based on additional sources that should have been excluded.
The correct HERD methodology now requires the calculation to be based on the HEA’s recurrent grant only, thereby providing a clearer picture of the amount of indirect research expenditure.
Using the revised and agreed methodology, the HERD rose by 7.8% between 2018 and 2020. Caution is therefore advised when comparing the data with pre-2018 years.