In 2023

Expenditure on Research and Development increased by 39.3% compared with the previous year

In 2023, in the Autonomous Region of Madeira (ARM), the share of expenditure on research and development (R&D) represented 0.48% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), an increase of 0.10 percentage points (pp) compared with 2022, when this indicator stood at 0.38%. The regions of Grande Lisboa (2.08%) and Norte (2.00%) recorded the highest values for this indicator. Substantially below the national average (1.70%), yet relatively close to each other, were the regions of the ARM (0.48%), the Autonomous Region of the Azores, and Algarve (both at 0.49%).

The ratio of personnel engaged in R&D activities (full-time equivalent ) in the active population stood at 5.9 per thousand in the ARM in 2023, representing an increase compared with the previous year (4.7‰). The ratio for researchers reached 0.39% (0.33% in 2022).

In 2023, 78 research units were recorded in the ARM (two fewer than in 2022), employing 769 persons (FTE), an increase of 172 compared with the previous year. Most of these employees were concentrated in Enterprises (55.4%), followed by Government (22.0%), including both Regional Public Administration and Local Government, Higher Education (21.2%), and Private Non-Profit Institutions (1.4%).

Total expenditure on R&D in 2023 amounted to approximately 33.3 million euros, an increase of 39.3% compared with the previous year (23.9 million euros). In that year, Enterprises led R&D activities in the ARM in terms of executed expenditure, accounting for 56.9% of total spending, followed by Government (23.1%), Higher Education (19.2%), and Private Non-Profit Institutions (0.8%). It is worth noting that, since the beginning of the series and for the fifth consecutive year, Enterprises have been responsible for the largest share of R&D expenditure, a position previously held by Higher Education (between 2003 and 2018).

Throughout all years for which data are available, the Government has traditionally been the main funder of R&D expenditure in the ARM. However, in 2023, for the first time, Enterprises accounted for the largest share (47.4%) of total funding, followed by the Government (46.8%). Enterprise funding amounted to 15.8 million euros, representing an increase of 65.8% compared with 2022.

In 2023, the scientific or technological field with the highest R&D expenditure in the ARM was Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts. Expenditure in this area reached 4.1 million euros (+69.4% compared with 2022), followed by Natural Sciences with 3.5 million euros (+36.5% year-on-year) and Exact Sciences with 2.5 million euros (+0.6% compared with 2022).

For more information, please click on:

• Time series

Back

• Next