A recent report on Research and Development (R&D) activities in Italy spanning the years 2021 to 2023 sheds light on the nation’s commitment to innovation and progress.
Resumption of R&D Activities in 2021
In 2021, Italy witnessed a resurgence in R&D activities with approximately 26.0 billion euros allocated to intra-muros R&D. This marked a 3.8% increase compared to the previous year.
Notably, public institutions demonstrated a robust commitment to R&D, with a remarkable increase of 9.7%. Universities also contributed significantly to this trend, recording a 7.9% rise in R&D spending. Meanwhile, private non-profit institutions maintained a steady increase, albeit at a more modest rate of 1.9%.
However, the business sector’s response to the pandemic-induced challenges was mixed. Overall, businesses only marginally increased their R&D expenditure by 1.1%. Large enterprises led the way in recovery, showing a substantial 3.8% growth in R&D spending. In contrast, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) faced a decline of 4.5% in their R&D expenditure.
Outlook for 2022 and 2023
Preliminary data for 2022 suggests a reduction in business R&D spending by 2.9% compared to the previous year. However, there are positive signals for recovery on the horizon, with estimates indicating a promising 5.2% increase in R&D spending for 2023 compared to 2022.
These statistics offer insights into Italy’s evolving R&D landscape and its efforts to navigate the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The commitment of public institutions and universities to R&D signifies their dedication to fostering innovation and progress within the country.
For the most up-to-date information and detailed data, the corporate data warehouse of I.Stat under the theme “Enterprises – Research and Development” is available for reference.
Keywords: COVID-19, Innovation, Institutions, Research and Development, Statistics, Technology, Universities, Businesses, Public Institutions