Research and development in the business enterprise sector

Updated: 16 February 2024

Next update: 29 October 2024

Research and development (R&D) full-time equivalents (FTE)
Research and development (R&D) full-time equivalents (FTE)
2022
25 190
Research and development (R&D) in business enterprise sector.
Research and development (R&D) in business enterprise sector.1
All enterprises (10+ employed)
20222021 - 2022
LevelPercentagesChange in per cent
Intramural R&D expenditure (NOK million)42 792.810011.7
By industry:
Manufacturing13 480.03214.2
Services total24 676.35810.3
Other industries4 636.51112.5
By size of enterprise:
10-49 persons employed12 815.230
50-99 persons employed5 884.414
100-199 persons employed5 749.013
200-499 persons employed6 727.316
500 persons employed and more11 616.927
R&D full-time equivalents (FTE)25 1906.1
1Figures for enterprises with 5-9 employees are available in the StatBank.
Explanation of symbols

Selected tables and charts from this statistics

  • Intramural R&D expenditure and R&D full-time equivalents (FTE) in business enterprise sector, by industry and size class (10+ employees). Three years.
    Intramural R&D expenditure and R&D full-time equivalents (FTE) in business enterprise sector, by industry and size class (10+ employees). Three years.1
    Intramural R&D (NOK million)R&D full-time equivalents (FTE)
    202020212022202020212022
    Nace (SN2007) and size class
    A-N All industries36 876.338 305.142 792.823 09023 74525 190
    10-19 persons employed4 577.54 414.45 414.53 2293 0403 387
    20-49 persons employed6 001.26 435.17 400.74 2614 5584 900
    50-99 persons employed5 058.45 423.55 884.43 6153 6173 733
    100-199 persons employed4 737.05 253.35 749.03 2933 4793 241
    200-499 persons employed5 523.56 237.16 727.33 4933 9204 175
    500 persons employed and more10 978.710 541.611 616.95 1995 1325 753
    C Manufacturing11 665.011 808.113 480.07 2907 5447 753
    10-19 persons employed746.8718.8505.6521512319
    20-49 persons employed1 220.11 325.81 458.1892935958
    50-99 persons employed1 099.81 233.21 439.4785847976
    100-199 persons employed1 810.31 935.42 578.91 3541 3211 272
    200-499 persons employed2 216.02 070.72 451.61 5431 3821 498
    500 persons employed and more4 572.04 524.25 046.32 1962 5462 730
    G-N Services total21 336.022 376.224 676.313 92014 28515 467
    10-19 persons employed3 679.83 568.74 385.42 6402 4682 981
    20-49 persons employed4 289.54 633.35 517.43 1073 3663 664
    50-99 persons employed3 351.43 629.63 692.82 4932 4642 358
    100-199 persons employed2 384.32 743.12 747.71 6561 8731 801
    200-499 persons employed3 038.93 830.64 007.11 8472 3732 527
    500 persons employed and more4 592.13 970.84 325.82 1771 7402 135
    A, B, D-F Other industries3 875.34 120.84 636.51 8791 9161 969
    10-19 persons employed150.8126.8523.5685987
    20-49 persons employed491.5476.0425.2262257278
    50-99 persons employed607.2560.7752.1336306399
    100-199 persons employed542.4574.8422.3283284167
    200-499 persons employed268.7335.8268.6103166149
    500 persons employed and more1 814.62 046.62 244.8826846888
    1Figures for enterprises with 5-9 employees are available for 2021 and 2022 in the StatBank.
    Explanation of symbols
  • Intramural and extramural R&D expenditure, R&D personell and R&D full-time equivalents (FTE) in business enterprise sector by Industry (10+ employees). Two years
    Intramural and extramural R&D expenditure, R&D personell and R&D full-time equivalents (FTE) in business enterprise sector by Industry (10+ employees). Two years
    Intramural R&D (NOK million)Extramural R&D (NOK million)R&D personnel (number of)R&D full-time equivalents (FTE)
    20212022202120222021202220212022
    Nace (SN2007)
    A-N All industries38 305.142 792.88 946.49 781.839 58241 20123 74525 190
    A03 Fishing and aquaculture1 097.01 398.2205.2231.5867984441460
    B05-B09 Mining and cuarrying1 800.91 960.42 348.12 136.11 3201 229814827
    B06, B09.1 Extraction of crude petroleum and natural gas and support act. petroleum extraction1 761.61 930.52 346.12 135.91 2511 195780804
    C Manufacturing12 044.713 645.82 430.82 653.912 54812 4697 5847 790
    C10-C11 Food products and beverages1 124.91 135.0235.2202.01 6901 391765672
    C13 Textiles36.437.111.98.996873229
    C14-C15 Wearing apparel, leather and leather products46.739.80.00.277735850
    C16 Wood and wood products159.4173.944.627.3423429130139
    C17 Paper and paper products166.7184.33.312.6204217107110
    C18 Printing and reproduction55.036.31.81.21591014730
    C19-C20 Refined petroleum products, chemicals and chemical products1 202.91 494.0280.2565.91 0011 141840924
    C21 Pharmaceuticals466.1510.2903.7948.5364365296315
    C22 Rubber and plastic products293.1252.058.142.7336341192205
    C23 Other non-metal mineral products134.9159.528.448.318623589127
    C24 Basic metals530.2543.084.180.6584592320321
    C25 Fabricated metal prod.1 568.51 741.483.297.39931 157627662
    C26 Electronic and optical products2 464.92 689.196.8103.72 2142 2291 8351 831
    C26.3 Manuf. of communication equipment413.3400.529.634.0362368339340
    C26.5 Manuf of testing instr./appliances1 112.41 313.344.733.71 0781 084773753
    C27 Electrical equipment907.41 719.6174.7156.3626751423532
    C28 Machinery and equipment1 601.91 466.5136.772.01 9341 723962913
    C29 Motor vehicles etc.172.5316.811.413.7177265127211
    C30 Other transport equipment340.0351.683.376.5707664228211
    C30.1 Building of ships and boats318.1318.183.070.3664621208191
    C31 Furniture151.2168.127.017.7267175145134
    C32 Other manufacturing325.2326.0159.2162.8219222179179
    C33 Repair, installation of machinery296.6301.87.415.6293310183194
    D35 Electricity and gas supply407.9407.7199.9267.5721740215224
    E36-E39 Water supply, sewerage and waste193.1243.519.573.2317325108103
    F41-F43 Construction364.4417.3171.3225.6799943257293
    G-N Services total22 397.024 719.83 571.54 194.123 01024 51214 32515 493
    G46 Wholesale trade750.0992.3248.5320.89631 254428540
    H49-H53 Transportation and storage341.8357.1119.7128.4549529210232
    J58 Publishing activities3 299.03 234.6315.9387.53 3943 1642 5212 326
    J58.2 Software publishing2 994.02 906.6206.9263.13 0462 8432 3142 109
    J59-J60 Motion picture, TV, music prod., programming and broadcasting act.19.415.210.114.662702313
    J61 Telecommunications732.4558.248.322.4580476459345
    J62 Computer programming, consultancy8 395.99 485.4849.9863.48 5129 5865 5136 419
    J63 Information service activities501.4596.664.6143.4679756360424
    K64-K66 Financial and insurance activities2 127.22 009.6604.4675.11 5991 486996868
    M70 Head offices, management consult.542.2522.129.977.6667638386291
    M71 Architecture, engineering act.3 600.04 407.9458.1612.34 2074 4982 1752 573
    M72 Scientific research and development1 675.02 124.4777.1884.31 3481 5709471 153
    M74.9 Other professional, scientific and technical activities360.1362.730.450.2366396265272
    N82.9 Other business supp. serv. act.52.853.714.714.184894336
    Explanation of symbols
  • Intramural R&D expenditure in business enterprise sector, by industry and size class (5+ employees). NOK million.
    Intramural R&D expenditure in business enterprise sector, by industry and size class (5+ employees). NOK million.
    2022
    Total R&D expendituresTotal R&D current costOf this:R&D investment cost
    Compensation of employeesCosts for hired personnelOther current costs
    NACE (SN2007) and size classes
    A-N All industries (5+ employees)46 343.543 086.329 429.85 308.88 347.83 257.2
    A-N All industries (10+ employees)42 792.839 809.727 303.14 712.07 794.52 983.1
    5-9 persons employed3 550.73 276.72 126.7596.7553.2274.1
    10-19 persons employed5 414.54 684.03 230.5584.7868.7730.5
    20-49 persons employed7 400.77 095.74 983.7893.91 218.1305.0
    50-99 persons employed5 884.45 566.33 816.7677.61 072.1318.1
    100-199 persons employed5 749.04 786.73 537.7408.4840.6962.3
    200-499 persons employed6 727.36 529.64 617.8849.51 062.3197.7
    500 persons employed and more11 616.911 147.47 116.71 297.92 732.8469.5
    C Manufacturing (5+ employees)13 879.112 329.58 485.8746.83 096.91 549.7
    C Manufacturing (10+ employees)13 480.011 991.68 293.0703.32 995.31 488.4
    5-9 persons employed399.2337.9192.843.5101.661.3
    10-19 persons employed505.6448.0281.022.9144.157.6
    20-49 persons employed1 458.11 367.3926.7141.1299.690.8
    50-99 persons employed1 439.41 355.0968.582.6303.884.4
    100-199 persons employed2 578.91 684.91 322.140.3322.4894.0
    200-499 persons employed2 451.62 361.31 619.3326.4415.690.3
    500 persons employed and more5 046.34 775.03 175.389.91 509.7271.3
    G-N Services total (5+ employees)27 683.626 715.718 614.04 235.03 866.7967.9
    G-N Services total (10+ employees)24 676.323 897.016 729.73 683.53 483.7779.3
    5-9 persons employed3 007.32 818.71 884.3551.4383.0188.6
    10-19 persons employed4 385.44 083.92 861.6526.0696.3301.4
    20-49 persons employed5 517.45 346.93 810.6717.9818.4170.5
    50-99 persons employed3 692.83 599.42 449.5553.5596.493.4
    100-199 persons employed2 747.72 698.92 028.5335.8334.748.8
    200-499 persons employed4 007.13 937.22 822.1512.5602.669.9
    500 persons employed and more4 325.84 230.62 757.41 037.8435.395.3
    A, B, D-F Other industries (5+ employees)4 780.84 041.22 330.0327.01 384.2739.6
    A, B, D-F Other industries (10+ employees)4 636.53 921.12 280.4325.21 315.5715.4
    5-9 persons employed144.3120.149.61.868.624.2
    10-19 persons employed523.5152.087.935.828.3371.5
    20-49 persons employed425.2381.4246.534.8100.143.8
    50-99 persons employed752.1611.9398.741.5171.8140.2
    100-199 persons employed422.3402.9187.132.3183.519.4
    200-499 persons employed268.6231.1176.410.644.137.6
    500 persons employed and more2 244.82 141.81 183.9170.1787.7103.0
    Explanation of symbols
  • Intramural R&D expenditures in business enterprise sector, by industry (10+ employees). NOK million
    Intramural R&D expenditures in business enterprise sector, by industry (10+ employees). NOK million1
    2022
    Total R&D expendituresTotal R&D current costOf this:R&D investment cost
    Compensation of employeesCosts for hired personnelOther current costs
    Nace (SN2007)
    A-N All industries42 792.839 809.727 303.14 712.07 794.52 983.1
    A03 Fishing and aquaculture1 398.2916.0418.735.9461.4482.2
    B05-B09 Mining and cuarrying1 960.41 883.91 113.3132.9637.876.5
    B06, B09.1 Extraction of crude petroleum and natural gas and support act. petroleum extraction1 930.51 858.31 092.8132.7632.772.3
    C Manufacturing13 645.812 156.28 369.5724.63 062.11 489.6
    C10-C11 Food products and beverages1 135.01 047.8647.927.9372.087.2
    C13 Textiles37.136.828.22.26.50.3
    C14-C15 Wearing apparel, leather and leather products39.836.434.30.61.53.4
    C16 Wood and wood products173.9166.2116.512.836.97.7
    C17 Paper and paper products184.3143.3112.82.528.041.1
    C18 Printing and reproduction36.334.523.00.710.91.8
    C19-C20 Refined petroleum products, chemicals and chemical products1 494.01 408.11 012.762.1333.385.8
    C21 Pharmaceuticals510.2498.6385.56.1107.011.6
    C22 Rubber and plastic products252.0233.0183.35.943.719.0
    C23 Other non-metal mineral products159.5153.9115.42.136.45.6
    C24 Basic metals543.0492.0371.534.885.751.0
    C25 Fabricated metal prod.1 741.41 699.5782.727.0889.841.9
    C26 Electronic and optical products2 689.12 532.12 046.1155.2330.8157.0
    C26.3 Manuf. of communication equipment400.5387.3338.911.836.613.2
    C26.5 Manuf of testing instr./appliances1 313.31 301.81 000.975.3225.711.5
    C27 Electrical equipment1 719.6884.0580.964.5238.6835.5
    C28 Machinery and equipment1 466.51 404.3996.7113.0294.562.2
    C29 Motor vehicles etc.316.8307.2215.651.140.49.6
    C30 Other transport equipment351.6303.8225.813.264.847.8
    C30.1 Building of ships and boats318.1280.8205.112.763.037.3
    C31 Furniture168.1148.8105.418.624.819.3
    C32 Other manufacturing326.0326.0181.7104.040.30.0
    C33 Repair, installation of machinery301.8299.8203.520.376.02.0
    D35 Electricity and gas supply407.7388.4262.571.354.619.4
    E36-E39 Water supply, sewerage and waste243.5156.097.722.535.887.5
    F41-F43 Construction417.3369.9283.342.843.847.3
    G-N Services total24 719.823 939.316 758.23 682.13 499.0780.6
    G46 Wholesale trade992.3865.2546.0117.9201.3127.2
    H49-H53 Transportation and storage357.1343.6247.871.724.213.5
    J58 Publishing activities3 234.63 209.52 482.0424.8302.725.1
    J58.2 Software publishing2 906.62 883.32 266.1330.1287.123.3
    J59-J60 Motion picture, TV, music prod., programming and broadcasting act.15.212.39.42.60.32.8
    J61 Telecommunications558.2536.2386.378.671.322.0
    J62 Computer programming, consultancy9 485.49 368.96 901.71 432.71 034.5116.5
    J63 Information service activities596.6594.4432.9130.830.72.2
    K64-K66 Financial and insurance activities2 009.61 999.2963.4890.5145.310.4
    M70 Head offices, management consult.522.1516.3399.024.892.65.8
    M71 Architecture, engineering act.4 407.94 082.32 922.3360.2799.9325.6
    M72 Scientific research and development2 124.42 002.91 154.6128.0720.2121.5
    M74.9 Other professional, scientific and technical activities362.7356.0270.517.867.76.8
    N82.9 Other business supp. serv. act.53.752.542.41.78.41.2
    1The table includes enterprises with at least 10 employees.
    Explanation of symbols
  • R&D personnel and R&D full-time equivalents (FTE) in business enterprise sector, by industry (10+ employees). Number
    R&D personnel and R&D full-time equivalents (FTE) in business enterprise sector, by industry (10+ employees). Number1
    2022
    Total R&D personnelOf this:Total R&D full-time equivalents (FTE)Of this:
    Female R&D personnelR&D personnel with higher degree education, incl.PhDR&D personnel with PhDR&D FTEs performed by personnel with higher degree education, incl. PhDR&D FTEs performed by personnel with PhD
    NACE (SN2007)
    A-N All industries41 2018 95026 7732 90825 19017 7912 264
    A03 Fishing and aquaculture9842524259646023984
    B05-B09 Mining and cuarrying1 229273996249827670223
    B06, B09.1 Extraction of crude petroleum and natural gas and support act. petroleum extraction1 195263974244804655219
    C Manufacturing12 4692 5647 2209217 7905 164775
    C10-C11 Food products and beverages1 39157363911067241391
    C13 Textiles871633129150
    C14-C15 Wearing apparel, leather and leather products735847050350
    C16 Wood and wood products429351047139394
    C17 Paper and paper products2174592111106110
    C18 Printing and reproduction101172203060
    C19-C20 Refined petroleum products, chemicals and chemical products1 141468775216924658193
    C21 Pharmaceuticals365204321124315278119
    C22 Rubber and plastic products341521495205905
    C23 Other non-metal mineral products23542113251277015
    C24 Basic metals5921272948032119165
    C25 Fabricated metal prod.1 1571225214366237228
    C26 Electronic and optical products2 2292721 7821501 8311 466137
    C26.3 Manuf. of communication equipment368352691634025215
    C26.5 Manuf of testing instr./appliances1 0841409336075365747
    C27 Electrical equipment7511014455153231639
    C28 Machinery and equipment1 7231879375191358237
    C29 Motor vehicles etc.2652416122111362
    C30 Other transport equipment66468411152111304
    C30.1 Building of ships and boats62167390151911194
    C31 Furniture17552952134882
    C32 Other manufacturing222651291317911012
    C33 Repair, installation of machinery310351501319410812
    D35 Electricity and gas supply7401805526522418223
    E36-E39 Water supply, sewerage and waste325101196331037016
    F41-F43 Construction943132351142931336
    G-N Services total24 5125 44917 0341 53015 49311 3331 137
    G46 Wholesale trade1 2543215823854031534
    H49-H53 Transportation and storage529122270162321269
    J58 Publishing activities3 1646282 100742 3261 63063
    J58.2 Software publishing2 8435251 896642 1091 48056
    J59-J60 Motion picture, TV, music prod., programming and broadcasting act.70132411360
    J61 Telecommunications476803905034529848
    J62 Computer programming, consultancy9 5861 7096 4683566 4194 529254
    J63 Information service activities756167458124242859
    K64-K66 Financial and insurance activities1 4865381 1192686865513
    M70 Head offices, management consult.6382535604829125129
    M71 Architecture, engineering act.4 4989193 4034442 5732 021320
    M72 Scientific research and development1 5705881 2704101 153959317
    M74.9 Other professional, scientific and technical activities396753214827222737
    N82.9 Other business supp. serv. act.893668636313
    1The table includes enterprises with at least 10 employees.
    Explanation of symbols

About the statistics

The statistics measures resources spent on research and development (R&D) in the business enterprise sector. It includes intramural and extramural R&D expenditure, R&D personnel, and R&D full-time equivalents. It also covers other aspects like funding, type of R&D and thematic and technology areas.

Research and development (R&D) comprises creative work undertaken on a systematic basis to increase the stock of knowledge, or new applications of available knowledge.

It can be difficult to distinguish R&D from innovation and other related activities. Important criteria that must be met for the activity to be considered R&D are that it contains something new, is creative, has uncertainty related to the result, is systematic and can be transferred and/or reproduced.

Definition of the main variables

R&D personnel
encompass all personnel directly involved in research and development, both inside and outside the R&D department. Also including technical and administrative personnel and persons in supporting functions that participate in R&D.

A R&D full-time equivalent (FTE)
is the R&D work performed by the R&D personnel during one year is converted into full-time equivalents.

R&D personnel and R&D FTEs can from 2021 be classified in two personnel types based on their tasks/functions:

  • Researchers: Product- or process developers, researchers and project managers
  • Technical/administrative personnel: support staff for R&D, including technicians, laboratory technicians, and administration connected to R&D projects.

Until 2021 they can be classified in these categories based on whether they had higher degree of education or not.

Intramural R&D expenditures
are all expenditures for R&D; performed within the statistical unit by own personnel or hired personnel. Intramural R&D expenditures encompass labour costs, cost of hired personnel, other current costs and capital expenditures on R&D.

Extramural R&D expenditures
encompass R&D services purchased from others; as research institutes, other Norwegian/foreign enterprises. Also including delivered R&D services from units in the same enterprise group.

The statistical units are classified according to:

  • Standard Industrial Classification (SIC2007). The basis for SIC 2007 is the EU standard NACE Rev. 2 and the UN standard ISIC Rev. 3.
  • Size class by number of employees: 05-09 employees, 10-19, 20-49, 50-99, 100-199, 200-499 and 500+ employees
  • Counties

Name: Research and development in the business enterprise sector
Topic: Technology and innovation

29 October 2024

Division for R&D, Technology and Business Dynamics Statistics

National level, key variables by county and economic region. Main variables by county are available in Statbank. Main variables by economic region are available by request.

The statistics are published annually. Preliminary key figures are published 10 months after the statistical year. Final figures are published 14 months after the statistical year. Final figures provide more detailed information on industry and region and offer various breakdowns of key variables.

The statistics are reported to OECD and Eurostat.

Collected and revised data are stored securely by Statistics Norway in compliance with applicable legislation on data processing.

Statistics Norway can grant access to the source data (de-identified or anonymised microdata) on which the statistics are based, for researchers and public authorities for the purposes of preparing statistical results and analyses. Access can be granted upon application and subject to conditions. Refer to the details about this at Access to data from Statistics Norway

The purpose of the R&D surveys is to map the national R&D activity in the business enterprise sector, the institute sector and the higher education sector. The surveys and results are prepared according to guidelines made by the OECD in the so-called "Frascati manual" (oecd.org).

The first R&D statistical surveys in Norway were conducted in the late 1950s. An important background was that the Norwegian research councils needed systematic information about research personnel, research recruitment needs and comparisons of investment in research between Norway and other countries. The Norwegian Research Council for General Sciences (NAVF) and the Norwegian Research Council for Technical and Natural Sciences (NTNF) participated early in the work on R&D statistics in line with the OECD's initiative. The other Nordic countries also participated early in the work. Over the years, the Nordic countries have worked closely together on these statistics. 1963 is considered the year in which international R&D statistics were established, and Norway has participated in the work from the beginning. In 1993, the five research councils were merged, and the official R&D statistics for Norway have since been prepared by Statistics Norway and the Nordic Institute for Studies in Innovation, Research and Education (NIFU) in agreement with the Research Council of Norway.

From the 1960s until 2022, the Nordic Institute for Studies in Innovation, Research and Education (NIFU and its predecessors) was responsible for conducting the survey for the institute sector and the higher education sector. Statistics Norway has conducted the survey for the business enterprise sector since 1991. As of 2022, Statistics Norway will conduct the R&D survey for all three R&D performing sectors.

Key users are ministries, the Research Council of Norway, research environments, media and business organizations. The survey is an important part of the knowledge base for research policy, and is used in evaluation, research, and analysis. OECD and Eurostat also use the results in international comparisons.

No external users have access to statistics before they are released at 8 a.m. on ssb.no after at least three months’ advance notice in the release calender. This is one of the most important principles in Statistics Norway for ensuring the equal treatment of users.

The national R&D figures are the sum of the figures for three sectors:

  • The higher education sector
  • The institute sector
  • Business enterprise sector

Statistics Norway reports R&D statistics for Norway to the OECD and Eurostat, but with a somewhat different sector division internationally than the Norwegian one. The OECD's sector division consists of:

  • Higher education sector
  • Government sector
  • Business enterprise sector
  • Private non-profit sector (PNP)

The higher education sector corresponds to the Norwegian higher education sector.

The government sector comprises the Norwegian institute sector apart from private research institutes which mainly serve the business enterprise sector. The business-oriented research institutes include industry specific research institutes and contract institutes, which in the international reporting belong to the Business enterprise sector.

In addition to private research institutes that mainly serve the business enterprise sector, the Business enterprise sector includes the business enterprises, i.e. companies with at least 10 employees.

The PNP sector (private non-profit) performs little R&D in Norway and is therefore merged with the Government sector in the international R&D statistics. The same applies to the PNP sector in many other countries.

Innovation survey

The R&D survey for the business enterprise sector was formerly carried out together with the innovation survey and data collected together in the same questionnaire. From 2013 onwards the R&D survey and the innovation survey are carried out separately. As previously the results from these surveys are published separately. R&D is one of the innovation activities, but the innovation survey covers a wider range of activities than R&D only.

The statistics are developed, produced and disseminated pursuant to Act no. 32 of 21 June 2019 relating to official statistics and Statistics Norway (the Statistics Act).

Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council on European business enterprise statistics.

The Business Enterprise sector. NACE-sectors 03, 05-33, 35-39, 41-43, 46, 49-53, 58-66, 70-72, 74.9, 82.9 (SN2007). Enterprises with at least 10 employees.

Surveys using the Central Register of Establishments and Enterprises as a frame.

The survey is a census of all units with at least 50 employees. In addition are all units with10-49 employees and with considerable reported R&D activity in the previous survey included. Among the other units with 10 - 49 employees a random sample is drawn within each strata (NACE 2-digit and size class). The fraction rate is normally 30 percent, but in some strata 15 and 10 percent are used.

The sample was about 5-6000 units.

The sample was extended in the 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2022 survey to also include enterprises with 5-9 employees. The total sample of these years is therefore larger than in the years in between. For comparability the statistics were presented both with and without this extension of the survey. The enterprises with 5-9 employees are not included in comparisons over time and international comparisons.

From 2008 onwards, enterprises with less than 20 employees in the industries Construction and Transportation and storage are not included. These groups have a large number of enterprises and a very low share of the total R&D activity in the business enterprise sector.

The statistical unit is enterprise, and with breakdown of a number of variables to establishments (local kind-of-activity unit). Until 1999 the statistical unit was the branch unit ( kind-of-activity unit) .

An enterprise is defined as the smallest combination of legal units that is an organizational unit producing goods or services. An enterprise may be a sole legal unit. An enterprise carries out one or more activities at one or more locations and may consist of one or more branch units or establishments. A establishment is geographically located in one particular place and its main activity delimited to one NACE-class. A branch unit encompasses all establishment units within the same NACE-class, but is not necessarily located to only one region. The use of branch unit/establishments gives the most detailed breakdown of the statistics by NACE. When enterprise is used as statistical unit the R&D activity is classified by NACE according to the enterprise’s main activity.

The data on R&D are collected by electronic questionnaire, more information at http://www.ssb.no/innrapportering/naeringsliv/fou. The forms are sent out 4-5 months after the end of the reference year.

Response burden
The time used to fill in the form is estimated to 30 minutes on average. This yields a total response burden of 2-3000 hours for the enterprises. However, the content of the questionnaire may vary from one year to another.

Editing

Editing is defined here as checking, examining and amending data.

All forms undergo on-receipt controls (is the questionnaire filled in, is there any obvious inconsistencies etc). There are integrated a number of controls in the electronic questionaire. After the data are made available electronically, more detailed controls take part, including check with the data from the previous survey, information from the financial account etc.

Estimations

For units with less than 50 employees the survey is based on a sample of units. Total figures for this part of the survey population are estimated based on the sample units. The estimations are done within each stratum, NACE 2-digit level and size-class.

Fixed prices

The respondents report R&D expenditure in current prices. Statistics Norway also publishes the figures for R&D expenditure in current prices. For total R&D expenditure, we also calculate figures in fixed prices. The base year is 2015. The deflator is based on the price index of production in NACE 72 Research and development in the national accounts. See table 09170 in the statistics bank, the variable "Output at basic value. Annual change in prices (per cent)". This is a weighted cost index - an average index for the different types of expenditure. The same deflator is used for all the R&D performing sectors.

Not relevant

Employees of Statistics Norway have a duty of confidentiality.

Statistics Norway does not publish figures if there is a risk of the respondent’s contribution being identified. This means that, as a general rule, figures are not published if fewer than three units form the basis of a cell in a table or if the contribution of one or two respondents constitutes a very large part of the cell total.

Statistics Norway can make exceptions to the general rule if deemed necessary to meet the requirements of the EEA agreement, if the respondent is a public authority, if the respondent has consented to this, or when the information disclosed is openly accessible to the public.

More information can be found on Statistics Norway’s website under Methods in official statistics, in the ‘Confidentiality’ section.

Comparability over time:

The first surveys of R&D started back in 1963, from 1970 onwards in a systematic way. The statistics have been worked out on bi-annual basis since 1977, but is undertaken annually from 2001 onwards. The first surveys covered only manufacturing industry, but the service industries have gradually been included. Statistics Norway is responsible for the survey for the Business enterprise sector from 1991 onwards. In 1995 the survey was considerably extended.

From 1991 the statistical unit was the kind-of-activity unit. For 2001 this was changed to enterprise as the main statistical unit, but with a breakdown of the main variables to local kind-of-activity unit.

From 2008 a new version of the industry classification (SN2007) was implemented making it more difficult to compare with former vintages. Results from 2007 are published both by the old and the new classification, while former vintages only are published by the old classification (SN2002).

Every second year, enterprises with 5-9 employees are included in the survey.For comparability the statistics were presented both with and without this extension of the survey. The enterprises with 5-9 employees are not included in comparisons over time and international comparisons.

Comparability with Eurostat/OECDs database

R&D statistics are reported to Eurostat using a slightly different sector classification than the Norwegian one. In Eurostat/OECD databases, the "Business enterprise sector" (BES) consists of the business sector and industry-oriented research institutions from the institute sector. In Eurostat/OECD databases, research institutions are included in the industry M72 Scientific research and development.

R&D statistics use businesses as the unit in tables with industry and region. This was also the case for reporting to Eurostat/OECD until 2020. Starting in 2021, enterprises (legal entities) are used for all data in reporting to Eurostat/OECD, including industry and region. This change is due to the requirement to report with the statistical unit "enterprise." In R&D statistics, there is a good alignment between the statistical enterprise and the legal entity. In Eurostat/OECD databases, tables by industry and region have a discontinuity in 2021 since the unit changes from business to enterprise (legal entity). Comparability with nationally published figures is reduced from 2021.

The concept of R&D may be difficult to distinguish from related activities.

The response rate for the survey is high, around 99 per cent, and the results should for that reason not be biased by non-respondents. In case of non-response from large R&D performers there are good routines to estimate missing data. Preliminary results have a larger degree of uncertainty than final results.

Due to controls in the electronic questionnaire, the item non-response is almost non-existent. Item non-response is in case adjusted during the revision process.

The population of enterprises is based upon the Central Register of Establishments and Enterprises. The sample is stratified by NACE 2-digit and number of employees. Incomplete updating of these variables and entries and exits of enterprises may cause errors in the survey.

A revision is a planned change to figures that have already been published, for example when releasing final figures as a follow-up to published preliminary figures. See also Statistics Norway’s principles for revisions.

Preliminary figures are typically published approximately 10 months after the end of the statistical year and include a limited set of indicators distributed by main industry and size group.

Final figures, with all indicators and detailed industry-specific data, are published 14 months after the end of the statistical year. At the same time, data that was released as part of the preliminary figures is updated.

There is usually little change in the main figures between the preliminary and final publications. Both preliminary and final figures are based on reported data. Any significant changes between preliminary and final figures will be addressed in the statistical releases.

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