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R&D Expenditure

Total R&D activity in New Zealand has continued to grow strongly over the past two years. This has been significantly driven by growth in Business sector R&D, which now makes up 43% of total R&D. 33% of New Zealand's research work force is now in the private sector, up from 27% in 2006. This is in line with the growth in business R&D activity. The business sector was responsible for 43 percent of all expenditure on R&D in New Zealand in the 2008 reference year. The government sector contributed 27 percent and the higher education sector made up the remaining 30 percent. Wages and salaries represented 52 percent of R&D expenditure in the 2008 reference year.

R&D expenditure was 1.20 percent of GDP in the 2008 reference year. The key data based on National R&D survey and OECD is presented in tables below.

Table: Breakup of R&D Expenditure
SourceNational R&D SurveyOECD
YearYear: 2008Year: 2008
Unitsmillion NZDmillion PPP USD
Gross Domestic Expenditure on R&D2,1401,383.7
R&D Expenditure by spending sector:  
Business/Industry913590.8
Government 584377.8
Higher Education643415.1
Private &/or non-profit/FFRDCs  
Others  
R&D Expenditure by source of funds  
Business/Industry859554.9
Government912590.8
Higher Education187 
Foreign10366.4
Other sectors (e.g. Public Research Institutes)  
Others79171.6
Source: (1) Research & Development in New Zealand 2008 (2) OECD, Main Science and Technology Indicators database, May 2009.