Science and technology statistics

 

SUMMARY OF:

Decision No 1608/2003/EC — production and development of EU statistics on science and technology

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DECISION?

It sets up a statistical information system to support the management of science and technology policies in the EU. This allows the research and development (R&D) as well as innovation capability of the EU’s regions to be assessed, taking into account support from the Structural Funds.

KEY POINTS

Creating an EU statistical information system on science, technology and innovation involves 2 key aspects.

• 1.

  Delivery of statistics by the EU countries on a regular basis and within specified deadlines, in particular data on:

  • R&D activity in all sectors of performance,
  • the funding of R&D activity, including government support for R&D, taking into account the regional dimension by producing statistics based on the nomenclature of territorial units for statistics (NUTS classification).
• 2.

  Development of new statistical variables to be produced on a permanent basis. That can yield more detailed information about science and technology.

In particular these focus on measuring:

• the output of science and technology activities,
• the dissemination of knowledge,
• innovation performance.

Priority areas

• Policymakers require information to formulate and assess science and technology policies in the EU countries, since their economies are increasingly knowledge-based. Priority is given to developing data in the following fields:
  • innovation (both technological and non-technological, e.g. an innovation in the service sector such as a change in organisational structure),
  • human resources involved in science and technology,
  • patents (data to be sourced from national patent offices),
  • high-technology statistics (identifying and classifying products and services, measuring economic performance and contribution to economic growth),
  • gender-disaggregated statistics (i.e. figures split by gender) on science and technology.
• Standards and manuals on concepts and methods will also be improved, with particular emphasis on concepts in the service sector and on coordinated methods for measuring R&D activity.
• The EU will also work closely with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and other international organisations so as to ensure data comparability and to avoid duplication of effort.
• In 2009, the European Statistical System Committee replaced the Statistical Programme Committee. It is responsible for supporting the European Commission in implementing this decision. It comprises EU countries’ representatives and is chaired by the Commission.

FROM WHEN DOES THE DECISION APPLY?

It has applied since 6 October 2003.

BACKGROUND

For more information, see:

• Research and innovation statistics at regional level (Eurostat).

MAIN DOCUMENT

Decision No 1608/2003/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 July 2003 concerning the production and development of Community statistics on science and technology (OJ L 230, 16.9.2003, pp. 1-3)

last update 08.09.2017