On the basis of the results of an ad-hoc survey carried out by the Statistical Service for the collection of data on scientific research and experimental development (R & D), total R & D expenditure in Cyprus in 1999 is estimated at £12,4 mn which corresponds to 0,25% of Gross Domestic Product, compared to £10,8 mn or 0,23% of GDP in 1998.

Despite the increase of 15% observed in R & D expenditure in 1999 relative to 1998, the share of the GDP of Cyprus devoted to R & D activities continues to be quite low compared to other countries.  For example, the share of R & D expenditure to the GDP of the 15 member-states of the European Union stands at 1,86% (ranging from 0,51% in Greece and 0,63% in Portugal to 2,89% in Finland and 3,77% in Sweden).

By sector of performance, the government accounted for £6,1 mn or 49,4% of total R & D expenditure, the higher education institutions for £3,0 mn or 24,0%, the business enterprises for £2,5 mn or 20,2% and the private non-profit institutions for £0,8 mn or 6,4%.  Comparing with 1998, an increase was recorded in the share of the business enterprises, from 14,1% to 20,2% and a decrease in the share of the government sector, from 56,1% to 49,4%.

Applied research formed the main type of research activity, absorbing £6,6 mn of the total current expenditure on R & D, while basic research accounted for £2,2 mn and experimental development for £2,5 mn.  The biggest part of R & D expenditure was devoted to the natural (£4,3 mn) and agricultural sciences (£3,6 mn), while the social sciences absorbed £1,7 mn, the humanities £1,3 mn, the medical sciences £0,6 mn and engineering and technology £0,9 mn.

About 47,4% of R & D activity in 1999 was financed from the government budget (£5,9 mn), as compared with 53,5% in 1998, while £2,2 mn originated from the budget of the University of Cyprus and £1,0 mn from sources from abroad (including £0,6 mn from the European Union).  An amount of £2,6 mn was the result of self financing, compared to £1,7 mn in 1998.

The number of persons engaged in R & D activities in 1999 stood at 1.520, compared to 1.292 in 1998.  In full-time equivalent terms, this number is estimated at 681 persons (compared to 564 persons in 1998), of which 255 or 37,4% were women.  Researchers numbered 278, technicians 198 and other supporting staff 205.  Of these persons, 149 are holders of PhD level degrees, 90 are holders of postgraduate degrees and 142 are holders of basic university degrees and other post-secondary diplomas, while 211 persons were secondary education and 89 primary education graduates.

The government sector showed the biggest contribution of human resources to R & D with 374 persons or 55% of the total.  It was followed by the business enterprise sector with 135, the higher education sector with 126 and the private non-profit sector with 47 persons.