Research and development in the business enterprise sector, 2001, preliminary figures

The increase in performed R&D man-years is, however, lower than in the R&D expenditure. In 2001 the number of performed R&D man-years was 12 200 and 11 000 in 1999.

Higher expenditure in intramural R&D

The business enterprise sector increased its expenditure of R&D from NOK 9.5 billion in 1999 to NOK 12.6 billion in 2001. This represents an increase of 32.5 per cent in nominal values; equivalent to 22 per cent in fixed prices.

As in 1999 the manufacturing industry was the main R&D contributor. The units within this sector performed R&D for an amount of NOK 6.6 billion in 2001, an increase of 39 per cent in nominal values from 1999. The R&D expenditure in the service industries has also increased. The amount was NOK 4.6 billion, an increase of 25 per cent from 1999.

Chemical industry, machinery and communication equipment industry were the dominating industries within manufacturing in 2001, as in 1999. These industries' total R&D expenditure exceeded 54 per cent of the total for manufacturing. In 1999 the portion was 46 per cent.

The dominating industries within services are computer and related activities, engineering and technical consultancy and telecommunications. However, only computer and related activities increased the R&D activity from 1999. The R&D expenditure amounted to slightly less than NOK 2 billion in 2001, 42.5 per cent of the total for the service industries. Engineering and technical consultancy and telecommunications have decreased since 1999.

The R&D activity in aquaculture has increased considerably in recent years and in 2001 the amount of intramural R&D was NOK 330 million. This amount equals 2.6 per cent of the total R&D in the business enterprise sector.

While aquaculture, manufacturing and service industries have increased their R&D activity, the opposite is the case for extraction of oil and gas. The R&D in this sector decreased from NOK 782 million in 1999 to NOK 723 million in 2001.

Higher number of R&D personnel

The performed R&D man-years increased by 11 per cent in the period 1999 to 2001. At the same time there has been an increase in wage cost per R&D man-year from NOK 505 000 in 1999 to NOK 566 000 in 2001. This increase is close to the general wage cost per normal man-year. There are, however, large variations in the wage cost per R&D man-year in the different industries. The highest cost was found in the extraction of oil and gas where the average cost was NOK 947 000 in 2001.

The total number of R&D personnel (head counts) has increased by 24 per cent, from 14 500 in 1999 to more than 18 000 in 2001. This is a considerably higher increase than for the performed R&D man-years, meaning that on average the total R&D personnel was working less directly on R&D in 2001 than in 1999.

No change in extramural R&D

In addition to intramural R&D the enterprises purchase R&D services from others - other enterprises, research institutes, universities, both national ones and from abroad. The total amount of extramural R&D was NOK 3.8 billion in 2001. This is very close to the 1999-figure, but the figures are not completely comparable.

Lower total R&D portion of GDP

The total R&D expenditure for all sectors, inclusive government and higher education sector amounted to NOK 24.5 billion in 2001. This represents 1.62 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) and is a slight decrease from 1999 (1.65). The average for the OECD-countries was 2.24 per cent in 2000. The portion for the Business Enterprise sector shows an increase from 1999 to 2001. More information is available at the Norwegian Institute for Studies in Research and Higher Education .

More detailed results will be available in February 2003.

Tables:

• Table 1 R personnel and R expenditure in Business Enterprise Sector. 1995-2001
• Table 2 R in Business Enterprise Sector. Intramural and Extramural R and man-years 2001. Millions NOK and number of
• Table 3 Intramural R expenditure on product-/process related R and Type of R 2001. Per cent