Article
Human resources for research in Portugal and Spain
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1In 2019, spending on R&D (as a percentage of GDP) was 64% (Portugal) and 57% (Spain) of the average EU-27 level.
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2Portugal has more researchers per thousand workers (9.6) than the EU-27 average (8.7), while Spain has fewer (6.3).
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3Since 2008, Portugal and Spain’s R&D spending as a proportion of total EU-27 R&D spending has decreased, and levels of gross domestic expenditure on R&D (GERD) have not returned to pre-crisis levels.
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4While in the EU-27 on average 55% of all researchers are employed in business, in Portugal and Spain only 38% are employed in this sector.
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5Both countries experience a structural gap in employment in knowledge-intensive activities (KIA), especially in high-tech manufacturing.
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6The EU Recovery Plan is an opportunity for increasing the demand for highly qualified workers in Portugal and Spain. If such demand is not created, Portugal and Spain will consolidate their position as exporters of talent.
