EU research and development spending exceeded €403 billion in 2024

New Eurostat figures show that the European Union invested €403.1 billion in research and development (R&D) in 2024, a rise of 3.2% compared with 2023. This continues a steady upward trend over the past decade, with gross domestic expenditure on R&D increasing significantly in most Member States. 

R&D intensity — measured as expenditure as a percentage of GDP — increased in 18 EU countries. The largest growth was observed in Belgium, Portugal and Greece, while Belgium, Sweden and Austria recorded the highest overall R&D intensity levels. Despite this progress, several countries reported declines, underscoring the still uneven landscape of research investment across the Union. 

The business sector remains the primary driver of R&D, accounting for 66% of total expenditure, followed by the higher education sector at 21%, and government at 12%. Private non-profit organisations represented just 1%. This distribution reflects the continued reliance on industrial research capacity to maintain EU competitiveness, particularly in science-intensive and technology-driven fields. A visual breakdown on the page shows the largest share clearly concentrated in business investment. 

The Eurostat release also highlights variation between 2014 and 2024, with several Member States making notable long-term gains. A chart on the page illustrates parallel upward trajectories for most countries across the ten-year span. 

These figures come at a critical moment for EU research policy as institutions prepare the next Multiannual Financial Framework and negotiate FP10. The sustained increase in R&D spending suggests stronger alignment between national investment and the EU’s broader objectives for competitiveness, innovation and strategic autonomy.