Research Spending In The North Increased To £320 Million In 2006

This represents a rise of £8.4million (2.7%) in real terms over the last year. Of the £319.2 million spent on R&D, £155.4 million (48.7%) was spent by businesses and £150.1 million (47.0%) by the Higher Education sector and the remainder was other government expenditure.

Over the year to 2006, there was an increase in expenditure in real terms by businesses but expenditure by Higher Education and government decreased slightly (0.3%).

Total business expenditure on R&D increased by 6.0% in real terms over the year and locally owned companies accounted for a marginally higher proportion of expenditure (50.3%) than foreign owned companies (49.7%).

Over the year to 2006, R&D expenditure carried out within companies (a subset of total business R&D expenditure) in the North increased by 3.8% in real terms, compared with 4.6% for the UK as a whole. In cash terms, total business R&D expenditure (£155.4 million) in 2006 was similar to the level reported in 2002.

Economy Minister, Nigel Dodds said that he believed that the latest figures are testimony to a Northern committed to R&D investment. He said: "It is encouraging to see an increase in business expenditure on R&D over the year in real terms, and particularly positive to see that locally-owned businesses are spending as much (£78.2 million) as foreign owned businesses (£77.2 million).

"The continuing rise in R&D expenditure is an important step in improving Northern Ireland's competitive position in global markets, but we must do more."