Research and development in the business enterprise sector

Updated: 16 February 2023

Next update: 26 October 2023

Research and development (R&D) full-time equivalents (FTE)
Research and development (R&D) full-time equivalents (FTE)
2021
23 745
Research and development (R&D) in business enterprise sector
Research and development (R&D) in business enterprise sector
All enterprises (10+ employed)
20212020 - 2021
LevelPercentagesChange in per cent
Intramural R&D expenditure (NOK million)38 305.11003.9
By industry:
Manufacturing11 808.1311.2
Services total22 376.2584.9
Other industries4 120.8116.3
By size of enterprise:
10-49 persons employed10 849.528
50-99 persons employed5 423.514
100-199 persons employed5 253.314
200-499 persons employed6 237.116
500 persons employed and more10 541.628
R&D full-time equivalents (FTE)23 7452.8
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
    Intramural R&D (NOK million)R&D full-time equivalents (FTE)
    201920202021201920202021
    Nace (SN2007) and size class
    A-N All industries35 408.136 876.338 305.122 17823 09023 745
    10-19 persons employed4 022.44 577.54 414.42 9163 2293 040
    20-49 persons employed5 816.36 001.26 435.14 1234 2614 558
    50-99 persons employed4 612.85 058.45 423.53 1553 6153 617
    100-199 persons employed4 495.64 737.05 253.33 2363 2933 479
    200-499 persons employed4 785.45 523.56 237.12 9203 4933 920
    500 persons employed and more11 675.610 978.710 541.65 8285 1995 132
    C Manufacturing11 454.611 665.011 808.17 4237 2907 544
    10-19 persons employed685.6746.8718.8508521512
    20-49 persons employed1 270.91 220.11 325.8938892935
    50-99 persons employed1 039.71 099.81 233.2720785847
    100-199 persons employed1 867.91 810.31 935.41 3981 3541 321
    200-499 persons employed1 975.52 216.02 070.71 4121 5431 382
    500 persons employed and more4 614.94 572.04 524.22 4472 1962 546
    G-N Services total19 679.121 336.022 376.212 81813 92014 285
    10-19 persons employed3 042.23 679.83 568.72 2572 6402 468
    20-49 persons employed4 091.24 289.54 633.32 9593 1073 366
    50-99 persons employed2 920.73 351.43 629.62 0662 4932 464
    100-199 persons employed2 203.62 384.32 743.11 5871 6561 873
    200-499 persons employed2 600.43 038.93 830.61 4171 8472 373
    500 persons employed and more4 821.14 592.13 970.82 5342 1771 740
    A, B, D-F Other industries4 274.43 875.34 120.81 9371 8791 916
    10-19 persons employed294.6150.8126.81516859
    20-49 persons employed454.1491.5476.0227262257
    50-99 persons employed652.5607.2560.7369336306
    100-199 persons employed424.1542.4574.8251283284
    200-499 persons employed209.5268.7335.892103166
    500 persons employed and more2 239.61 814.62 046.6847826846
    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)
    20202021202020212020202120202021
    Nace (SN2007)
    A-N All industries36 876.338 305.18 120.78 946.438 60439 58223 09023 745
    A03 Fishing and aquaculture951.11 097.0201.8205.2804867386441
    B05-B09 Mining and cuarrying1 867.51 800.92 054.02 348.11 4301 320863814
    B06, B09.1 Extraction of crude petroleum and natural gas and support act. petroleum extraction1 837.61 761.62 048.72 346.11 3761 251840780
    C Manufacturing11 756.712 044.72 251.52 430.812 38212 5487 2907 584
    C10-C11 Food products and beverages1 180.01 124.9178.9235.21 6981 690770765
    C13 Textiles36.536.45.911.985962832
    C14-C15 Wearing apparel, leather and leather products40.946.70.00.064774858
    C16 Wood and wood products205.0159.435.644.6398423146130
    C17 Paper and paper products145.9166.78.83.3225204109107
    C18 Printing and reproduction66.555.02.51.82171596147
    C19-C20 Refined petroleum products, chemicals and chemical products1 718.11 202.9370.3280.29521 001813840
    C21 Pharmaceuticals442.7466.1789.7903.7352364290296
    C22 Rubber and plastic products189.9293.123.058.1308336141192
    C23 Other non-metal mineral products152.3134.940.428.42091869789
    C24 Basic metals484.8530.291.184.1597584321320
    C25 Fabricated metal prod.1 433.31 568.588.083.21 004993572627
    C26 Electronic and optical products2 236.72 464.9118.396.81 9352 2141 6041 835
    C26.3 Manuf. of communication equipment360.3413.322.229.6318362295339
    C26.5 Manuf of testing instr./appliances973.81 112.461.844.78811 078685773
    C27 Electrical equipment584.6907.473.5174.7589626403423
    C28 Machinery and equipment1 441.21 601.9115.5136.71 8041 934962962
    C29 Motor vehicles etc.194.5172.514.511.4251177144127
    C30 Other transport equipment402.4340.0103.383.3809707247228
    C30.1 Building of ships and boats367.6318.1100.983.0758664222208
    C31 Furniture179.8151.223.627.0291267154145
    C32 Other manufacturing305.1325.2153.6159.2211219175179
    C33 Repair, installation of machinery316.3296.614.97.4383293206183
    D35 Electricity and gas supply447.9407.9187.9199.9783721212215
    E36-E39 Water supply, sewerage and waste158.2193.113.419.5302317108108
    F41-F43 Construction352.9364.4156.1171.3771799278257
    G-N Services total21 342.122 397.03 256.03 571.522 13123 01013 95314 325
    G46 Wholesale trade838.7750.0248.2248.51 235963595428
    H49-H53 Transportation and storage320.5341.8116.1119.7507549218210
    J58 Publishing activities3 247.63 299.0404.4315.93 4583 3942 5222 521
    J58.2 Software publishing2 772.22 994.0220.2206.92 9343 0462 1932 314
    J59-J60 Motion picture, TV, music prod., programming and broadcasting act.74.819.46.010.1109624723
    J61 Telecommunications714.5732.477.048.3675580478459
    J62 Computer programming, consultancy8 090.58 395.9680.8849.98 0948 5125 4485 513
    J63 Information service activities403.1501.460.164.6624679328360
    K64-K66 Financial and insurance activities2 202.92 127.2525.2604.41 5661 5991 004996
    M70 Head offices, management consult.555.8542.253.729.9641667353386
    M71 Architecture, engineering act.2 965.23 600.0356.5458.13 5614 2071 8022 175
    M72 Scientific research and development1 460.01 675.0679.0777.11 1391 348806947
    M74.9 Other professional, scientific and technical activities374.7360.118.130.4404366285265
    N82.9 Other business supp. serv. act.93.752.830.914.7117846843
    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
    2021
    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)41 919.439 945.327 032.14 922.97 990.31 974.1
    A-N All industries (10+ employees)38 305.136 506.924 753.04 383.97 370.01 798.2
    5-9 persons employed3 614.33 438.42 279.1539.0620.3175.9
    10-19 persons employed4 414.44 182.12 722.3582.7877.1232.3
    20-49 persons employed6 435.16 146.14 440.5707.7997.9289.0
    50-99 persons employed5 423.55 093.43 682.3529.1881.9330.1
    100-199 persons employed5 253.34 998.53 623.8426.4948.3254.8
    200-499 persons employed6 237.16 048.24 187.2930.0931.1188.9
    500 persons employed and more10 541.610 038.66 096.91 208.02 733.7503.0
    C Manufacturing (5+ employees)12 112.011 140.17 693.3588.72 858.1971.9
    C Manufacturing (10+ employees)11 808.110 847.57 513.1564.32 770.2960.5
    5-9 persons employed303.9292.5180.224.487.911.4
    10-19 persons employed718.8636.5449.434.0153.282.3
    20-49 persons employed1 325.81 218.2839.388.6290.3107.6
    50-99 persons employed1 233.21 100.6797.063.8239.8132.6
    100-199 persons employed1 935.41 726.51 309.569.8347.2208.9
    200-499 persons employed2 070.71 981.51 403.2227.5350.889.2
    500 persons employed and more4 524.24 184.22 714.680.71 388.9340.1
    G-N Services total (5+ employees)25 540.724 816.517 125.24 012.83 678.5724.2
    G-N Services total (10+ employees)22 376.221 799.215 091.23 510.23 197.8577.0
    5-9 persons employed3 164.53 017.32 034.0502.6480.7147.2
    10-19 persons employed3 568.73 431.02 225.0546.0660.0137.7
    20-49 persons employed4 633.34 526.33 356.3557.8612.1107.0
    50-99 persons employed3 629.63 485.12 582.4411.3491.4144.6
    100-199 persons employed2 743.12 717.12 035.0334.9347.226.1
    200-499 persons employed3 830.63 766.02 585.9652.9527.264.6
    500 persons employed and more3 970.83 873.82 306.71 007.3559.897.0
    A, B, D-F Other industries (5+ employees)4 266.73 988.72 213.6321.41 453.7278.0
    A, B, D-F Other industries (10+ employees)4 120.83 860.12 148.7309.41 402.0260.7
    5-9 persons employed145.9128.664.912.051.617.3
    10-19 persons employed126.8114.547.92.763.912.3
    20-49 persons employed476.0401.6244.961.395.574.4
    50-99 persons employed560.7507.7303.054.1150.753.0
    100-199 persons employed574.8554.9279.321.8253.919.9
    200-499 persons employed335.8300.7198.149.653.035.1
    500 persons employed and more2 046.61 980.71 075.6120.1785.065.9
    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 million
    2021
    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 industries38 305.136 506.924 753.04 383.97 370.01 798.2
    A03 Fishing and aquaculture1 097.01 015.2401.050.9563.281.8
    B05-B09 Mining and cuarrying1 800.91 724.41 058.9105.7559.876.6
    B06, B09.1 Extraction of crude petroleum and natural gas and support act. petroleum extraction1 761.61 692.81 032.8105.7554.368.8
    C Manufacturing12 044.711 070.37 595.7587.62 887.0974.5
    C10-C11 Food products and beverages1 124.91 019.5653.634.0331.8105.4
    C13 Textiles36.436.426.70.39.40.0
    C14-C15 Wearing apparel, leather and leather products46.743.338.92.42.13.4
    C16 Wood and wood products159.4152.1110.717.823.77.3
    C17 Paper and paper products166.7132.2101.84.825.734.5
    C18 Printing and reproduction55.042.633.40.98.212.5
    C19-C20 Refined petroleum products, chemicals and chemical products1 202.91 111.0830.211.9268.991.8
    C21 Pharmaceuticals466.1444.4342.010.392.021.7
    C22 Rubber and plastic products293.1268.6190.49.968.424.5
    C23 Other non-metal mineral products134.9125.885.13.337.39.1
    C24 Basic metals530.2458.3353.822.981.671.9
    C25 Fabricated metal prod.1 568.51 509.4664.731.6813.159.1
    C26 Electronic and optical products2 464.92 261.71 822.9126.0312.8203.2
    C26.3 Manuf. of communication equipment413.3396.8316.418.661.816.4
    C26.5 Manuf of testing instr./appliances1 112.41 083.5847.164.5171.929.0
    C27 Electrical equipment907.4749.1453.752.8242.6158.3
    C28 Machinery and equipment1 601.91 491.01 038.3100.5352.1110.9
    C29 Motor vehicles etc.172.5165.1113.47.444.37.4
    C30 Other transport equipment340.0306.0224.715.965.434.1
    C30.1 Building of ships and boats318.1285.4207.514.263.832.7
    C31 Furniture151.2138.5110.98.519.212.7
    C32 Other manufacturing325.2324.5180.8104.239.50.7
    C33 Repair, installation of machinery296.6290.8219.722.249.05.8
    D35 Electricity and gas supply407.9373.0230.271.771.135.0
    E36-E39 Water supply, sewerage and waste193.1173.7105.18.460.219.4
    F41-F43 Construction364.4330.1252.054.523.534.3
    G-N Services total22 397.021 820.415 110.13 505.03 205.3576.7
    G46 Wholesale trade750.0713.9412.8109.0192.236.1
    H49-H53 Transportation and storage341.8336.3231.276.029.15.5
    J58 Publishing activities3 299.03 271.62 503.6430.4337.627.4
    J58.2 Software publishing2 994.02 970.02 303.1349.8317.124.0
    J59-J60 Motion picture, TV, music prod., programming and broadcasting act.19.418.716.31.31.10.7
    J61 Telecommunications732.4688.6544.590.154.043.8
    J62 Computer programming, consultancy8 395.98 303.85 937.11 356.81 009.992.1
    J63 Information service activities501.4499.3345.8118.035.52.1
    K64-K66 Financial and insurance activities2 127.22 118.91 042.0900.5176.48.3
    M70 Head offices, management consult.542.2536.1415.537.882.86.1
    M71 Architecture, engineering act.3 600.03 334.12 392.3256.2685.6265.9
    M72 Scientific research and development1 675.01 600.0971.2111.2517.675.0
    M74.9 Other professional, scientific and technical activities360.1347.1253.314.379.513.0
    N82.9 Other business supp. serv. act.52.852.144.53.64.00.7
    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). Number
    2021
    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 industries39 5828 34425 8412 70423 74516 9352 083
    A03 Fishing and aquaculture8672383838944123880
    B05-B09 Mining and cuarrying1 3203101 042244814641214
    B06, B09.1 Extraction of crude petroleum and natural gas and support act. petroleum extraction1 2512951 012242780621212
    C Manufacturing12 5482 4596 7948837 5844 878730
    C10-C11 Food products and beverages1 69058465811576541195
    C13 Textiles961332032180
    C14-C15 Wearing apparel, leather and leather products775245058390
    C16 Wood and wood products42334741130251
    C17 Paper and paper products204489714107649
    C18 Printing and reproduction159302704780
    C19-C20 Refined petroleum products, chemicals and chemical products1 001418657193840569169
    C21 Pharmaceuticals364202315113296256103
    C22 Rubber and plastic products3364614610192978
    C23 Other non-metal mineral products18634741689439
    C24 Basic metals5841232967832018764
    C25 Fabricated metal prod.9931104473362736326
    C26 Electronic and optical products2 2142791 6021531 8351 438135
    C26.3 Manuf. of communication equipment362332521333923712
    C26.5 Manuf of testing instr./appliances1 0781637666277365347
    C27 Electrical equipment626593334242323930
    C28 Machinery and equipment1 9341751 0717096261147
    C29 Motor vehicles etc.1779760127650
    C30 Other transport equipment70778478182281518
    C30.1 Building of ships and boats66471450162081366
    C31 Furniture267571112145882
    C32 Other manufacturing219731261317910912
    C33 Repair, installation of machinery29333129121839712
    D35 Electricity and gas supply7211915145021516622
    E36-E39 Water supply, sewerage and waste317103202341087914
    F41-F43 Construction799139414152571486
    G-N Services total23 0104 90416 4931 38914 32510 7841 018
    G46 Wholesale trade9633116044342829330
    H49-H53 Transportation and storage549100292112101203
    J58 Publishing activities3 3946112 295752 5211 77266
    J58.2 Software publishing3 0465202 097732 3141 63765
    J59-J60 Motion picture, TV, music prod., programming and broadcasting act.6271802390
    J61 Telecommunications5801135005145941448
    J62 Computer programming, consultancy8 5121 4296 0023245 5134 051254
    J63 Information service activities679140385143602208
    K64-K66 Financial and insurance activities1 5995611 2072399678819
    M70 Head offices, management consult.6672275794238633832
    M71 Architecture, engineering act.4 2078213 2024032 1751 746258
    M72 Scientific research and development1 3484831 057342947775258
    M74.9 Other professional, scientific and technical activities366713015426522738
    N82.9 Other business supp. serv. act.843151643313
    Explanation of symbols

About the statistics

The survey 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

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

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

26 October 2023

Division for R&D, technology and business dynamics

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

The statistics are annually. Preliminary key figures are published 10 months after the statistical year. Final figures are published 14 months after the statistical year.

The statistics are reported to OECD and Eurostat.

Micro data and information about sample units and population are stored permanently. For access to microdata for research purposes, see: https://www.ssb.no/en/omssb/tjenester-og-verktoy/data-til-forskning

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".

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.

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.

Statistics Act. Act of 21 June 2019 no. 32 on official statistics and Statistics Norway, § 10 on the duty to provide information.

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 and 2021 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 2150 hours for the enterprises. However, the content of the questionnaire may vary from one year to another.

Editing

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

Results are published at an aggregated level. Individual enterprises can not be identified.

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.

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.

Not relevant

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