The landscape of Research and Development (R&D) in Sweden has experienced a significant boost during 2022, according to the latest data release by the Statistical Central Bureau (SCB) on July 13, 2023.
In terms of expenditures on internal R&D activities, Sweden witnessed a notable increase. The figures revealed that the expenditures for internal R&D activities reached 202.8 billion SEK in 2022. This marked an impressive rise of approximately 16.2 billion SEK compared to the previous year, 2021, in current prices. However, when adjusted for inflation to reflect 2022 price levels, the increase amounted to around 5.6 billion SEK.
A closer look at various sectors demonstrated a universal growth in expenditures for internal R&D activities when compared to 2021 in current prices. Relative to the previous year, the public sector observed the smallest increase of 4.0 percent. Following closely were the university and higher education sector with a 4.2 percent increase, and the private non-profit sector with a growth of 5.6 percent. Notably, the business sector exhibited the strongest development, experiencing a remarkable 10.4 percent increase in expenditures for internal R&D activities between 2021 and 2022.
Despite the growth in R&D expenditures, Sweden’s R&D intensity remained consistent between 2021 and 2022, standing at 3.40 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Examining a decade-long trend, the R&D intensity was only higher in 2020. Over the last ten years, the development of GDP has often lagged behind the growth in R&D expenditures, leading to a cumulative increase of 0.14 percentage points in R&D intensity since 2013.
The data underscores Sweden’s commitment to fostering innovation and driving research and development activities across various sectors. These efforts not only contribute to economic growth but also strengthen the nation’s position on the global innovation stage.