In 2023, the total amount of expenditure on research and development activity (R&D) was 1 467.5 million BGN, which was 15.9% more than the previous year. The annual growth tendency is retained for the period 2019 - 2023.
R&D intensity (R&D expenditure as a percentage of the gross domestic product) amounted to 0.79% and it was 0.04 percentage points higher than in 2022.
Regarding R&D expenditure by fields of science in 2023, as in the previous year, the highest share belonged to the R&D expenditure in engineering and technology sciences - 47.2% (693.5 million BGN), followed by medical and health sciences with a share of 22.3% (326.9 million BGN) and the natural sciences - 18.7% (273.9 million BGN).
In 2023, the personnel engaged in research and development activity amounted to 25 411 persons (in full-time equivalent), which was 6.2% less than the previous year. The share of women in total R&D personnel was 48.6%. The number of researchers in full-time equivalent was 16 357 persons, which was 6.5% less compared to 2022.
