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Science, Technology and Culture
Anne-Sofie Dam Bjørkman
+45 3917 3396

asd@dst.dk

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Research and development in the public sector

The statistics on Research and Development (R&D) cover a large number of indicators describing the resources used with the focus being expenditures and personel (in numbers and in full-time equivalents). The information is distributed by main sectors, types of expenditure, fields of science and type of research.

Data description

The statistics regarding public research and development (R&D) cover a large number of indicators describing the resources used with the focus being expenditures and personel (in numbers and in full-time equivalents). The information is distributed by main sectors, types of expenditure, fields of science and type of research.

Classification system

Statistics on R&D in the public sector are published according to a number of various groupings and classifications depending on the type of R&D institution and the R&D personel.

Sector

Eurostat:

  • Higher Education (HE)
  • Government (GOV)
  • Private non-profit(PNP)

Denmark:

  • HE: Higher Education (Split in to University Hospitals and Higher Education in published tables)
  • GOV: Other government research institutions
  • Sector research institutions
  • PNP: Private non-profit organisations

In a few supplementary tables there are specific information for each individual university.

Personnel categories

The national category:

  • Videnskabeligt personale (VIP), cover the international category

Researchers, which include the subcategories (which are only available in Danish terms):

Universities:

  • Professorer
  • Lektorer/seniorforskere
  • Seniorrådgivere
  • Adjunkt/Post doc. Forsker
  • Ph.d.- og kandidatstipendiat
  • Øvrige forskere

University hospitals:

  • Professorer
  • Overlæger
  • Afdelingslæger
  • 1. reservelæger/reservelæger
  • Post Docs
  • Ph.d.- og kandidatstipendiat
  • Øvrige forskere med kandidatgrader
  • Kliniske assistenter/forskningsstipendiater
  • Forskere med mellemlange videregående uddannelser.

Other government sector:

  • Forskere med Ph.D. grad
  • Forskere med kandidatgrad
  • Øvrige forskere

The national category:

  • Teknisk administrativt personale(TAP), cover the international categories
  • ”Technicians” and ”Other Support Staff”.

Technicians include the subcategories (which are only available in Danish terms):

Universities:

  • Teknisk Personale

University hospitals:

  • Teknisk/klinisk personale

Other government sector:

  • Teknisk personale

Other Support Staff incude the subcategories (which are only available in Danish terms):

Universities:

  • Administrativt personale
  • Scholarships

University hospitals:

  • Administrativt personale
  • Scholarships

Other government sector:

  • Administrativt personale
  • Scholarships

Sector coverage

Statistical units are according to the Frascati Manual classified in 4 sectors:

  • Business Enterprise Sector
  • Higher Education Sector
  • Government Sector
  • Private non-profit Sector

The statistics on R&D in the public sector covers the last 3 sector mentioned.

Because of their relation to the universities the university hospitals are classified under the Higher Education sector, which hence cover most of the R&D activities in Danish hospitals. The government sector includes smaller hospitals, museums and archives and centers and sectoral research institutions not covered by universities. Private non-profit organisations are covered since they do not operate on the market. The main distinction regarding market and non-market activities is based on National Accounts definitions.

Statistical concepts and definitions

Smallest Homogeneous Unit: The statistical unit is defined in the Frascati manual as being the smallest homogeneous unit predominantly involved in only one of the six fields of science and for which a complete (or almost complete) set of factor input data can be obtained. In the Danish terminology this means the individual institute in universities, a centre and the individual department in university hospitals.

Research and Development (R&D): Research and development (R&D) comprise creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of knowledge to devise new applications.

Type of Research and Development: Three types of R&D may be distinguished:

  • Basis research: experimental or theoretical work undertaken primarily to acquire new knowledge of the underlying foundation of phenomena and observable facts, without any particular application or use in view.
  • Applied research: original investigation undertaken in order to acquire new knowledge. It is, however, directed primarily towards a specific practical aim or objective.
  • Experimental development: systematic work, drawing on existing knowledge gained from research and/or practical experience, which is directed to producing new materials, products or devices, to installing new processes, systems and services, or to improving substantially those already produced or installed.

Field of Science: The grouping to be used to divide the activities in the HES sector (Higher Education) and in the PNP sector (Private Non Profit) is layed down in the Frascati Manual. The described Fields of Science are used in Danish statistics for the remaning part of the government sector as well.

The 6 Fields of Science are:

  • Natural Sciences
  • Engineering and Technology
  • Medical Sciences
  • Agricultural Sciences
  • Social Sciences
  • Humanities

R&D expenditures: According to the Frascati Manual expenditures are all expenditures for R&D performed within a statistical unit or sector of the economy during a specific period, whatever the source of funds.

The expenditures cover not only the direct costs for e.g. wages to researchers but also parts of the indirect costs such as IT-support, electricity and heating and various administrative services. In cases of problems with measuring precisely the indirect costs an estimate based on the relative R&D activity of the statistical unit may be applied. In that case a measure based on R&D personel (full time equivalents) is recommended by Statistics Denmark.

Sectors: Statistical units are according to the Frascati Manual classified in 4 sectors:

  • Business Enterprise Sector
  • Higher Education Sector
  • Government Sector
  • Private non-profit Sector

The statistics on R&D in the public sector covers the last 3 sector mentioned.

Because of their relation to the universities the university hospitals are classified under the Higher Education sector, which hence cover most of the R&D activities in Danish hospitals. The government sector includes smaller hospitals, museums and archives and centers and sectoral research institutions not covered by universities. Private non-profit organisations are covered since they do not operate on the market. The main distinction regarding market and non-market activities is based on National Accounts definitions.

Statistical unit

The statistical unit is defined in the Frascati manual as being the smallest homogeneous unit predominantly involved in only one of the six fields of science and for which a complete (or almost complete) set of factor input data can be obtained. In the Danish terminology this means the individual institute in universities, a centre and the individual department in university hospitals.

Statistical population

The population to be measured is all non-market oriented government units and private non-profit units which are having R&D activities at a level of at least one person measured in full time equivalents. The size of the population is around 700.

Reference area

Denmark.

Time coverage

2007-2022

Base period

Not relevant for these statistics.

Unit of measure

All expenditures are measured in 1.000 DKK and personel in numbers and full time equivalents.

Reference period

The statistics are compiled annually.

Frequency of dissemination

The statistics are published annually.

Legal acts and other agreements

The data are collected in accordance with section 8 of the Act on Statistics Denmark (Consolidated act No 599 , June 22, 2000) from 2007.

Data are collected in accordance with Decision No 1608/2003/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 July 2003 concerning the production and development of Community statistics on science and technology And Commission regulation (EC) No 995/2012 implementing Decision No 1608/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards statistics on science and technology.

Cost and burden

The response burden on public institutions is not calculated.

Comment

https://www.dst.dk/fui.