CYPRUS spent £14.1 million on scientific research and experimental development (R&D) in 2000 a survey released yesterday has shown.
In 1999 the amount spent on R&D was £12.4 million, which corresponds to 0.25 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) compared to 0.26 per cent for 2000.
Despite a 13.3 per cent increase in R&D from 1999 to 2000, the percentage of GDP spent by Cyprus on R&D activities remains considerably lower that in other countries.
The percentage of GDP devoted to R&D activities by the 15 member-states of the European Union stands at 1.90 per cent on average.
By sector of performance, the government accounted for £6.6 million — 46.6 per cent — of total R&D expenditure, higher education institutions chipped in £3.5 million — 24.8 per cent — business gave £3.0 million — 21.3 per cent — and private non-profit institutions forked out one million pounds — 7.3 per cent.
In comparison to 1999, all sectors of performance increased their percentage to the total at the expense of the government sector, which registered a decrease from 49.4 per cent in 1999 to 46.6 per cent in 2000.
The largest part — £8.7 million — of R&D expenditure was devoted to the natural and agricultural sciences.
Social sciences absorbed £2.2 million, the humanities £1.2 million, the medical sciences £0.7 million and engineering and technology £1.2 million.
The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.
