Research and Development Spending Accounts for 0.25% of GDP in 2014

Sofia, June 30 (BTA) - Public spending on research and
development (R&D) in Bulgaria amounted to 206.6 million leva in
2014, increasing by 3.1 per cent compared with 2013, the
National Statistical Institute reported on Tuesday. The absolute
 increase did not change the ratio of R&D spending to GDP, which
 remained at 0.25 per cent (unchanged since 2012).

This implies that Bulgaria is lagging far behind the average EU
level, which was 0.68 per cent of GDP in 2013.

In terms of target areas, there were but insignificant changes
in R&D spending in Bulgaria in 2014 compared with 2013. The
general advancement of knowledge accounted for the largest share
 of R&D spending, at 52.7 per cent. This included mainly
research conducted by the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and
universities. In the EU, the general advancement of knowledge
absorbed 51.9 per cent of R&D spending in 2013.