R&D expenditures by enterprises: sharp rise

Private enterprises spent almost CHF 12 billion on research and development activities (R&D) they conducted in Switzerland in 2008. This amount exceeds by CHF 2.3 billion (+24%) the expenditures posted in 2004 (9.6 billion), the last year surveyed. This result enables Switzerland to remain at the top of the world ranking. Moreover, Swiss enterprises are rapidly globalising their R&D activities.

In 2008, R&D expenditures within enterprises (intramural expenditures) amounted to 2.2% of gross domestic product (GDP) at current prices in Switzerland. This represents a slight increase in enterprises’ commitment to R&D compared with 2004 (2.1% of GDP), which is remarkable given the high GDP growth between 2004 and 2008. In fact, driven by numerous factors (boom in the financial markets, high demand, etc.), between 2004 and 2008 the Swiss economy registered the highest growth levels since the beginning of the 1990s. Despite this, R&D expenditures grew faster than GDP during these four years, enabling Switzerland to position itself well at the international level. Thus, Switzerland ranks sixth globally. The European Union (EU-27) average is 1.1% of GDP.

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Pierre Sollberger, Tel.: +41 32 71 36865, Philippe Stauffer, Tel.: +41 32 71 36075

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Federal Statistical Office