In 2003 Gross Domestic Expenditure on R&D was 1.86 per cent of GDP, very similar to 2002. In terms of European comparisons in 2003 the UK was just below the EU average of 1.93 per cent.
Expenditure in real terms performed by the business sector has increased by 1.5 per cent on the 2002 total.
The manufacturing sector accounts for 77 per cent of the total R&D expenditure. Within that figure, the chemicals broad group has the largest share of R&D expenditure at 36 per cent.
The overall level of net government expenditure on defence R&D has fallen from 37 per cent in 1995 to 32 per cent in 2003.
Within regions, spending is highest in the South East for both the business and government sectors.
Published in web format: 10 August 2005 at 9:30 am