Spending on research and development rose 13% from its 2008 level to $2.44 billion in 2010, Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) says.
Business sector spending rose 10% to $1.01b, in universities spending was up 23% to $802 million, and in the government sector there was an 8% rise to $629 million.
The biggest area of R&D growth in the business sector was in services, which rose 18% to $481m, while the increase in universities was due to increased focus on R&D and higher funding from business and government, SNZ said.
The total R&D spend represented 1.3% of gross domestic product, up from 1.19% in 2008.
Despite that increase, spending on R&D in this country continued to be relatively low, SNZ said.
The average for the 34-country Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development was 2.33% in 2008, the last year for which figures were available.
The Government provided 46%, or $1.12b, of the R&D funding in 2010, with 38%, or $940m, from the business sector.
SNZ manager of research and development statistics Hamish Hill said there was a trend toward more commercially focused R&D.
In 2010, more than 70% of the R&D was applied research or experimental development -- areas more likely to have commercial applications.
NZPA
Tue, 22 Mar 2011
Tue, 22 Mar 2011
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R&D spending up 13% between 2008 and 2010
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