R&D: smaller companies picking up momentum

The various stakeholders in Switzerland dedicated CHF 22.6 billion in 2017 to their own R&D activities. Enterprises invested CHF 15.6 billion, i.e. more than two thirds of the total while higher education institutions spent 6.2 billion, accounting for more than a quarter of the total amount.

Over the past 9 years, growth in R&D expenditure has slowed. Between 2008 and 2012, the annual average rate was 5% and then fell to 3% between 2012 and 2015 before reaching 1% for the period from 2015 to 2017. However, the total expenditure amount has continued to increase over the years, with new records seen in every survey.

Smaller companies picking up momentum
For the first time in 20 years, R&D expenditure of enterprises fell slightly ( 11 million, i.e. a decrease of less than 0.1%) compared with the previous survey (2015). The expenditure of large enterprises (100 employees and over) declined (-2%) while that of smaller enterprises rose (between +13% and +16% depending on the size). In 2017, companies with less than 50 employees spent CHF1.4 billion (+15.6%), companies with more than 50 but less than 100 employees spent CHF1.1 billion (+13%).

Switzerland in the top 3 globally
Research expenditure represents 3.4% of the gross domestic product in Switzerland. This ratio which measures the intensity of research in the country’s economy is very high in international comparison. Switzerland is in third place, behind South Korea (3.6%) and Israel (3.9%), according to the figures from the OECD.

More researchers and women among R&D personnel
In 2017, R&D personnel in Switzerland remained stable, accounting for approx. 125 000 persons (almost 82 000 jobs in full-time equivalents – FTEs). R&D personnel mainly consisted of researchers (46 000 FTEs) with the number of women gradually increasing. In 2017, 36% of R&D personnel were female compared with 32% in 2008.

More information is available on the website of the Federal Statistical Office.

(SK)