R&D overview Italy

n      R&D expenditure in Italy were  € 14.8 billions (CAN$ 21 billions) in 2003

n      Private companies make up 47.3% of all national R&D activity followed by universities (33.9%), public research centres (14.3%), other public organizations (3.2%) and private non profit institutions (1.4%).

n      Of all R&D projects, basic research makes up 16.1% of the total amount, applied research is 48.5% and experimental development is 35.4%.

n      Private Companies with at least 500 employees support 72.7% of the total expenditure of their sector, meanwhile small companies (under 50 employee) support only 5.1%.

n      During 2003 higher R&D internal expenditure sectors were : radio-tv and telecommunications fixtures manufacturing (€ 913 million/CAN$ 1.3 billion), chemical and pharmaceutical products (€ 819 million/CAN$ 1.15 billion), mechanical devices (€ 802 million/ CAN$ 1.13 billion), vehicles (€ 723 million/CAN$ 1.02 billion), other transports (€ 706 million/CAN$ 995 million), and R&D services (€ 651 million/CAN$ 918 million). These sectors represent about 66% of companies total R&D expenditure.

n      Other sectors primarily use external R&D services: electronic devices manufacturing (€ 497 millions/CAN$ 700 million), rubber and plastic field (€ 408 million/CAN$ 575 million), agricultural and food (€ 224 million/CAN$ 315 million), buildings construction (€ 202 million/CAN$ 285 million), and textile (€ 119 million/CAN$ 168 million).