Press Release: Stagnation of R&D intensity a major threat to the European knowledge-based economy

The European Commission on 19 July presented a new publication on Europe's position in research and innovation. The 'Key figures 2005 for science, technology and innovation' showed worrying trends in R&D investment and innovation in Europe. The growth rate of R&D intensity (R&D expenditure as % of GDP) had been declining since 2000 and was then close to zero. Europe was on track to miss the objective it set itself to boost spending on R&D from 1,9 to 3% by 2010.