On the basis of the results of an ad-hoc survey carried out by the Statistical Service for the collection of data on scientific research and experimental development (R & D), total R & D expenditure in Cyprus in 1998 is estimated at £10,8 mn which corresponds to 0,23% of Gross Domestic Product, compared to £5,6 mn or 0,18% in 1992 (at which time the previous similar survey was held).

Comparing with other countries, the share of the GDP of Cyprus devoted to R & D appears to be quite low. For example, the share of R & D expenditure to the GDP of the 15 member-states of the European Union stands at 1,90% (ranging from 0,48% in Greece and 0,65% in Portugal to 2,78% in Finland and 3,82% in Sweden).

By sector of performance, the government accounted for £6,1 mn or 56% of total R & D expenditure, the business enterprises for £1,5 mn or 14%, the higher education institutions for £2,7 mn or 25% and the private non-profit institutions for £0,5 mn or 5%. About 70% of total R & D expenditure related to labour costs.

Applied research formed the main type of research activity, absorbing £5,8 mn of the total current expenditure on R & D, while basic research accounted for £2,1 mn and experimental development for £1,8 mn. The biggest part of R & D expenditure was devoted to the agricultural (£3,7 mn) and natural sciences (£3,2 mn), while the social sciences absorbed £1,5 mn, the humanities £1,2 mn, the medical sciences £0,4 mn and engineering and technology £0,7 mn.

About 53,5% of R & D activities was financed from the government budget (£5,8 mn), while £2,1 mn originated from the budget of the University of Cyprus and £0,9 mn from sources from abroad. An amount of £1,7 mn was the result of self financing.

The number of persons engaged in R & D activities in 1998 stands at 1.292. In full-time equivalent terms, this number is estimated at 564 persons (compared to 366 persons in 1992), of which 194 were women. Researchers numbered 237, technicians 168 and other supporting staff 159. Of these persons, 144 were holders of PhD level degrees, 73 were holders of postgraduate degrees and 90 were holders of basic university degrees and other post-secondary diplomas, while 167 persons were secondary education and 90 primary education graduates.

The government sector shows the biggest contribution of human resources to R & D with 347 persons or 62% of the total. It is followed by the higher education sector with 115 persons, the business enterprise sector with 77 persons and the private non-profit sector with 25 persons.

The main results by sector of performance are as follows:

R & D expenditure in the government sector during 1998 stood at £6,05 mn and was mainly funded through the government budget (£5,58 mn), though £0,34 mn was funded from sources from abroad.

R & D personnel in the government sector numbered 347 persons (117 or 34% were women), of which 82 researchers, 133 technicians and 132 other supporting staff. The number of PhD level degree holders was 43, postgraduate degree holders 31, basic university degree holders 33 and post-secondary diploma holders 6, while 149 persons were secondary education and 84 primary education graduates.

The main fields of R & D activity in the government sector fall within the competence of the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, with total R & D expenditure amounting to £4,46 mn, which is shared as follows: Agricultural Research Institute £3,04 mn, Department of Agriculture £0,67 mn, Department of Fisheries £0,31 mn, Department of Veterinary Services £0,23 mn, Department of Geological Surveys £0,17 mn and Department of Water Development £0,05 mn. Of particular importance was the contribution of the State General Laboratory (£0,64 mn), the Department of Antiquities (£0,51 mn) and the Scientific Research Centre (£0,25 mn).

Expenditure on R & D in the business enterprise sector during 1998 reached £1,52 mn and was mainly funded by the enterprises’ own funds (£1,37 mn). An amount of £59.000 originated from sources from abroad, £56.000 from the government budget and £36.000 from enterprises of the broader public sector.

Experimental development was the main type of research activity undertaken and contributed to about half of the total current R & D expenditure of the sector. On the basis of the field of science, the natural sciences absorbed £0,68 mn, followed by engineering and technology £0,43 mn, medical sciences £0,31 mn, agricultural sciences £0,10 mn and the social sciences £9.000.

R & D personnel in this sector numbered 77 persons, of which 42 researchers, 20 technicians and 15 other supporting staff. By level of formal qualification, there were 7 PhD level degree holders, 19 postgraduate degree holders, 19 basic university degree holders, 13 post-secondary diploma holders, 14 secondary education graduates and 5 primary education graduates.

The manufacturing industry formed the principal source of R & D activity among business enterprises, spending £0,97 mn and engaging 49 persons. The major industrial branches where R & D was being conducted were the manufacture of chemicals and chemical products (£0,39 mn), the manufacture of food products and beverages (£0,31 mn) and the manufacture of electrical machinery and apparatus (£0,14 mn).

R & D was also performed in computer and related activities (£0,15 mn), health and social work (£0,15 mn), agriculture (£77.000), fishing, operation of fish hatcheries and fish farms (£75.000), business activities, such as legal, accounting, advertising and consultancy activities (£67.000) and post and telecommunications (£32.000).

R & D expenditure in the higher education sector during 1998 amounted to £2,69 mn, with a contribution of £2,47 mn from the University of Cyprus, £0,11 mn from the Higher Technical Institute and £0,11 mn from private higher education institutions. Basic research absorbed 54% of total current R & D expenditure, applied research 41% and experimental development a mere 5%.

The University of Cyprus was the principal source of R & D activity, as expenditure devoted to R & D reached £2,47 mn, of which £1,80 mn related to labour costs. It is estimated that an amount of £2,06 mn has originated from the University budget while the rest has been made available from other sources, as follows: abroad £0,22 mn, ministries and other government departments £64.000, enterprises of the broader public sector £33.000, private enterprises £31.000 and private non-profit institutions £60.000.

By field of science, this amount is shared between the natural sciences £0,92 mn, the social sciences £0,97 mn and the humanities £0,59 mn.

The number of persons engaged in R & D activities in the University of Cyprus during 1998 stood at 221. In full-time equivalent terms, this number corresponds to 100 persons, of which 31 women. The grand majority (80%) are holders of PhD level degrees.

In the Higher Technical Institute, an amount of £109.000 was devoted to R & D (mainly in engineering and technology), of which £50.000 was funded from abroad and 4 persons were engaged. In the private institutions of higher education, an amount of £110.000 was devoted to R & D, of which £75.000 was self financed. R & D was mainly performed in the social sciences, the natural sciences and engineering and technology.

R & D expenditure in private non-profit institutions during 1998 stood at £0,52 mn. An amount of £0,11 mn originated from self financing, £0,23 mn from other private non-profit institutions and £0,19 mn from sources from abroad.

R & D personnel in the sector numbered 25 persons.

Health and social work formed the principal source of R & D activity in the sector, devoting an amount of £0,47 mn. On the basis of the field of science, the natural sciences absorbed £0,37 mn, the medical sciences £88.000, the social sciences £36.000 and engineering and technology £31.000.

Additional information on the subject can be found in the report of the Statistical Service entitled “Research and Development Statistics, 1998”, which can be purchased from the Government Printing Office in Nicosia at the price of £5,00 per copy.