Bolstered by Business Sector, Israel's National R&D Expenditure Hits 4.5% of GDP in 2017
In 2016, non-Israeli capital financed 55.6% of the civilian research and development expenditure in Israel
12:4028.08.18
In 2017, Israel's national expenditure on civilian research and development amounted to almost $16 billion (NIS 57.8 billion), or 4.5% of Israel's gross domestic product (GDP), according to a Monday report by the country's Central Bureau of Statistics. In constant prices, the sum is a 5% increase from 2016, when expenditure accounted for 4.4% of GDP.
Tel Aviv. Photo: 123RF
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The business sector accounted for 86% of the total national expenditure (NIS 49.8 billion), with a 5.6% year-to-year increase at current prices, bolstered by a very high concentration of research and development outposts of multinationals found in Israel.
Tel Aviv. Photo: 123RF
The expenditure on scientific research and development—which includes activities in startups, local outposts owned by multinational businesses, incubators and research institutes—increased by 5.9% in 2017, according to the bureau. The expenditure on research and development at outposts owned by multinationals amounted to NIS 24.1 billion in 2016, an increase of 8.7% from 2016.
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According to the bureau, in 2016, non-Israeli capital financed 55.6% of the civilian research and development expenditure in Israel. The bureau did not provide data for 2017.
Of the remaining 14% of the total national expenditure for 2017, universities account for 11.4%, the general government sector for 1.6%, and private non-profits for 1%. Of the NIS 7.7 billion the government spent, most was allocated to business companies and to universities.
