05 October 2010

This domain provides users with data concerning Government Budget Appropriations or Outlays on R&D (GBAORD). GBAORD data are measuring government support to R&D activities, or, in other words, how much priority Governments place on the public funding of R&D.

GBAORD data are built up using the guidelines laid out in the Proposed standard practice for surveys of research and experimental development - Frascati Manual, OECD, 2002 (See annex at the bottom of the page).

The data are also broken down in accordance to the Nomenclature for the analysis and comparison of scientific programmes and budgets (NABS) at chapter or subchapter level. The latest version of the nomenclature (NABS 2007) is applicable since reference year 2007, before that its earlier version (NABS 1992) was used. For detail information about the differences between the two versions of the NABS please refer to: Comparison between NABS 2007 and NABS 1992 (See annex at the bottom of the page).

The NABS 2007 chapter level covers (See annex at the bottom of the page):

• Chapter 1- Exploration and exploitation of the earth
• Chapter 2- Environment
• Chapter 3- Exploration and exploitation of space
• Chapter 4- Transport, telecommunication and other infrastructures
• Chapter 5- Energy
• Chapter 6- Industrial production and technology
• Chapter 7- Health
• Chapter 8- Agriculture
• Chapter 9- Education
• Chapter 10- Culture, recreation, religion and mass media
• Chapter 11- Political and social systems, structures and processes
• Chapter 12 -General advancement of knowledge: R&D financed from general university funds (GUF)
• Chapter 13 - General advancement of knowledge: R&D financed from other sources than GUF
• Chapter 14 - Defence

Besides GBAORD in basic unit National currency (MIO_NAC) the following units are available: Euro (MIO_EUR), Euro per inhabitant (EUR_HAB) Purchasing Power Standard (MIO_PPS), Purchasing Power Standard at 2000 prices (MIO_PPS_KP00), Purchasing Power Standard per inhabitant at constant 2000 prices (PPS_KP00_HAB), Percentage of GDP (PC_GDP), Percentage of total (PC_TOT - for the breakdown by socio-economic objectives).

More details on breakdowns, derivations and different units available are found in the Eurostat indicators on GBAORD (See annex at the bottom of the page).

GBAORD data are available for following countries and country groups:

- All EU Member States, plus Candidate Countries, EFTA Countries, the Russian Federation, Japan, the United States and South Korea.

- Country groups: EU-27, EU-15 and EA-16.

The main classification used in the GBAORD database is the Nomenclature for the analysis and comparison of scientific programmes and budgets (NABS 2007). GBAORD data is broken down by the NABS 2007 socio-economic objectives (See annex at the bottom of the page).

GBAORD covers not only government-financed R&D performed in government establishments but also government-financed R&D in the other three national sectors (business enterprise, private non-profit, higher education) as well as abroad (including international organisations), (§ 485, Frascati Manual, OECD 2002 - See annex at the bottom of the page).

Government budget appropriations or outlays on R&D (GBAORD) are all appropriations allocated to R&D in central government or federal budgets and therefore refer to budget provisions, not to actual expenditure. Provincial or state government should be included where the contribution is significant. Unless otherwise stated, data include both current and capital expenditure and do not only cover government-financed R&D performed in government establishments, but also government-financed R&D performed in the business enterprise, private non-profit and higher education sectors, as well as abroad. Data on actual R&D expenditure, which are not available in their final form until some time after the end of the budget year concerned, may well differ from the original budget provisions. This and further methodological information can be found in the revised version of the Frascati Manual, OECD 2002 (See annex at the bottom of the page).

GBAORD data are covering all public budget spending related to R & D and are linked to policy issues by means of a classification by "objectives" or "goals". Programmes are allocated between socio-economic objectives on the basis of intentions at the time the funds are committed and not the actual content of the projects concerned. These breakdowns reflect policies at a given moment in time.

More details on breakdowns, derivations and different units available are found in the Eurostat indicators on GBAORD (See annex at the bottom of the page).

All public administrations.

Budget analysis.

These data are assembled by national authorities using data collected for public budgets. This essentially involves identifying all the budget items related to R&D and measuring or estimating their R&D content.

GBAORD statistics are currently available for EU Member States and Candidate Countries, EFTA Countries, the Russian Federation, Japan, the United States and South Korea. Eurostat also calculates and disseminates aggregates at the EU-and Euro-area-levels (EU-27, EU-15 and EA-16).

Eurostat's GBAORD database contains data from 1980 onwards, though the data availability differs according to country.

The base year for the unit Purchasing Power Standard (PPS) and PPS per inhabitant at constant prices is currently 2000. All calculations of non-basic unit (national currencies) are done by Eurostat.

GBAORD data is available in the following units: National currency (MIO_NAC), Euro (MIO_EUR), Euro per inhabitant (EUR_HAB) Purchasing Power Standard (MIO_PPS), Purchasing Power Standard at 2000 prices (MIO_PPS_KP00), Purchasing Power Standard per inhabitant at constant 2000 prices (PPS_KP00_HAB), Percentage of GDP (PC_GDP), Percentage of total (PC_TOT - for the breakdown by socio-economic objectives).

Calendar year in most cases.

Until 2003, data on GBAORD was collected under gentleman's agreement. From the reference year 2004 onwards the data collection is based on the Commission Regulation No 753/2004 on statistics on science and technology (OJ L 118, page 23 from 23 April 2004) - (See annex at the bottom of the page).

From December 2005 onwards GBAORD data are collected in co-operation with OECD using a common core questionnaire.

Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (recital 24 and Article 20(4)) of 11 March 2009 (OJ L 87, p. 164), stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics and the access to those confidential data with due account for technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society.

Primary and secondary confidentiality of GBAORD data are flagged by the MSs. Confidential GBAORD data provided to Eurostat are treated according to the policy rules (see point 7.1).  

The release calendar is publicly available and published at Eurostat website.

Eurostat website: http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu.

In line with the Community legal framework and the European Statistics Code of Practice Eurostat disseminates European statistics on Eurostat's website (see item 10 - 'Dissemination format') respecting professional independence and in an objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users are treated equitably. The detailed arrangements are governed by the Eurostat protocol on impartial access to Eurostat data for users.

Provisional GBAORD data are disseminated in October (T+10) and final GBAORD data - in March (T+15). Beside these major updates, possible minor data updates and revisions are announced in the release calendar.

News releases on-line.

Free publications on line: Statistics in Focus, Pocketbook 'Science, technology and innovation in Europe', Statistical book 'Science, technology and innovation in Europe'.

Please consult free data on-line.

None.

See also Eurostat's STI section website.

The information on the national data compilation methods is available at Eurostat and can be found in R&D and GBAORD Statistics metadata collection tool (see annex at the bottom of the page).

The following paragraphs provide information on the quality of GBAORD data for the reference year 2007.

Eurostat must ensure that the statistical practices used to compile national GBAORD data are in compliance with Frascati Manual recommendations. Quality evaluation of GBAORD statistics is carried out based on the information provided in the national quality reports sent by the countries in addition to the regular metadata provision.

Overall quality of GBAORD statistics is good and and relatively improved compared to the previous quality evaluation done for reference year 2006. Differences between countries in some aspects of the measurement methodology (the stage in the budgetary process from which GBAORD data are drawn, inclusion/exclusion of VAT and EU funds for R&D) could affect the comparability of the results.

The proposed classification of R&D statistics' users into the following groups conforms with the situation in almost all of the countries:

1. Institutions

2. Social actors (e.g. Employers' associations, trade unions, lobbies etc),

3. Media

4. Researchers and students

5. Enterprises or businesses

User satisfaction with the national statistics is reported as high. In most of the countries this assessment is based not on specific user satisfaction survey but on ad-hoc feedback received from users.

All countries report availability rates of 100% for both provisional and final GBAORD data.

The overall accuracy of GBAORD data is generally good due to the rigorous validation of the data. Countries use coefficients, usually as a complement of text analysis, for the estimation of the R&D share of budget items.

The compilation of GBAORD statistics relies on administrative data and therefore sampling error is not defined.

Most countries do not report any coverage or measurement error. In most cases data undergo a first set of checks and corrections during collection. In processing data undergo a combination of automated and manual methods and corrections are made in cooperation with providers of information. Finally, measures are taken for achieving a satisfactory response rate involving consultation with the national statistical offices, re-contact of the respondents either by mail or phone and imputation.

Provisional GBAORD data are provided to Eurostat 6 months after the end of the calendar year of the reference period (T+6months) and released in October (T+10).

Final GBAORD data are provided to Eurostat 12 months after the end of the calendar year of the reference period (T+12) and released in March (T+15).

Almost all countries were punctual in the transmission of the 2007 GBAORD statistics.

The Frascati manual recommendations are followed by all countries. There are a few methodological differences between countries which can affect the comparability of their results:

- the stage in the budgetary process from which final data are drawn with the countries  taking one of two options (final budget appropriations or actual outlays)

- the inclusion of VAT or not in GBAORD

- the inclusion of EU funds for R&D or not in GBAORD

Breaks in the series are very rare in the most recent years. However, in years further in the past, i.e. years before 1995, methodology to derive GBAORD data has changed a lot.

The difference between GBAORD data and R&D expenditure financed by government varies significantly across the countries and can be explained to a certain extent with existing objective methodological reasons.

Regarding coherence between provisional and final GBAORD data there are slight differences reported and only in two countries the respective difference exceeds 5%. This difference is a reflection of the respective differences between provisional and final budgets.

Systematic information is not available.

Revisions can be carried out by Member States and other countries when sending completed questionnaires to Eurostat. The questionnaire requests that Member States and other countries provide information on any methodological changes affecting the data.

Revisions can be carried out by countries when reporting to Eurostat. The questionnaire requests that countries provide information on any data or methodological changes. In interpreting the tables, some (national) peculiarities have to be kept in mind.

GBAORD data are provided to Eurostat directly by the National Statistical Institutes of Member States of the European Union, Candidate Countries, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Russia. For Japan, the United States and South Korea data source is OECD - Main Science and Technology Indicators (MSTI).

There are two cycles of annual data collection: in June (T+6) for provisional GBAORD data and in December (T+12) for final GBAORD data. Between these regular cycles MSs can also provide major updates and/or revisions of GBAORD data.

GBAORD data are assembled by national authorities using data for public budgets. This essentially involves identifying all the budget items related to R&D and measuring or estimating their R&D content.

Data are collected at the national level and the procedure consists of a two step process:

- within the budget statistics, it is first necessary to identify the budget items that involve R&D;

- the R&D content of these budget items must then be measured or estimated.

These data reflect R & D policies at a given moment and the concomitant priorities of the policy makers when allocating the budgets. These data are difficult to compile because they are not obtained through surveys, but in most countries national budget data is used as administrative data source. Problems of data compilation are due to the fact that national budgets have their own terminology and methodology and therefore often do not match with the Eurostat/OECD methodology contained in the Frascati Manual, OECD, 2002 (See annex at the bottom of the page).

National GBAORD data are collected by Eurostat using harmonized electronic R&D data template: the common OECD/Eurostat core questionnaire. From December 2005, collection of national GBAORD statistics compilations is made in close co-operation with the OECD.

The data is collected in basic units (national currencies). Derived indicators and aggregates are calculated by Eurostat on the base on data collected, sometimes together with relevant reference data from Eurostat data bases.

GBAORD data provided by the national statistical institutes are checked and compared with previously provided data. Suspected errors are reported to the National Statistical Institutes which corrects or explains the anomaly. Processed data are compared with other data sources such as the OECD before being disseminated.

Annual data for the European Union are derived from all countries, for which the respective data are available, usually by adding up the aggregates for all Member States after expressing them in a common currency (ECU/Euro). Where single Member States' figures are lacking, Eurostat may still provide an estimate for the European aggregates, usually by using unpublished estimates for missing countries.

The calculation of the aggregates on GBAORD is made from national data and Eurostat estimates in the unit Euro (from 1/1/1999) and ECU (up to 31/12/1998). Eurostat estimates are made at the level of sector of performance, interpolating or extrapolating the fixed price ratio between total GBAORD and GDP. 

European aggregates should be seen as estimates and can sometimes deviate from what is achieved when summing up the national data. This can be due to dissemination of national data outside the normal data treatment cycles. It can also be due to possible inconsistencies in some countries data e.g. revisions of totals but not breakdowns. Within the European aggregates consistency are however always assured in such a way that breakdowns are proportionally adjusted to sum up to the total.