Bulgaria’s state spending on research and development in 2009 saw an 8.5% increase compared to its level from the previous year.

The Bulgarian government spend a total of BGN 230.4 M on research, development, and scientific activities, shows data of the National Statistical Institute released Wednesday.

This figure also includes money spent by the government on annual membership fees in international science and research organizations as well as on bilateral and multilateral R&D programs.

Thus, the total share of the government’s R&D spending as a percentage of the GDP is up from 0.32% in 2008 to 0.35% of the GDP.

Agriculture, forestry and fisheries attracted the largest share of Bulgarian government R&D spending in 2009 – 19.1%; education is second with 4.8%; transport, infrastructure and communications come in next with 3.4%. Industry, energy, and health attracted between 2% and 3% of state research spending. 10% went to university funds, while 51% went to “various institutions” for “general knowledge development,” shows the NSI data.

Bulgaria’s total R&D spending (public and private combined) is one of the lowest in the EU – 0.5% of the GDP. Members of the current Cabinet have set as a goal the gradual increase of this figure to 2% of the GDP in 2020, which is still lower than the 3% goal of the EU set in the EU 2020 Strategy.

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