Belgium devoted 3.43% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to research and development (R&D) in 2021, making it a leader in Europe, the Federal Secretary of State for Science Policy, Thomas Dermine, said on Friday,
"The trends are very positive for Belgium, with a remarkable R&D intensity reaching 3.39% in 2020 and 3.43% in 2021. So the progress continues," stressed Mr Dermine (PS) in a press release, citing figures from the Federal Cooperation Commission / Inventory and Statistics of Research and Experimental Development (CFS/STAT).
Belgium had reached 3.17% in 2019 and 2.86% in 2018, compared with just 2% in 2009.
"For several years now, Belgium has been one of the rare European countries to exceed the 3% target set by the European Union (in 2000, editor’s note) as part of the Lisbon strategy," said the Secretary of State.
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According to projections for the other countries, Belgium is set to be "on the top step of the European podium," ahead of Sweden (second in the ranking, with 3.35%), Austria (3.19%) and Germany (3.13%). The European average is 2.15%.
In Belgium, total R&D spending for the period 2001-2021 has grown more strongly than in other countries; only Norway (not an EU member, but a member of the European Free Trade Association, EFTA) has seen stronger growth, added Dermine.
In his view, the growth in spending is also mainly in the second half of the period (2011-2021) and “for this period, no country has experienced growth comparable” to that recorded in Belgium.
