Research and development (i50)
- 31/10/2025
- objective
- assessment assessment
In 2023, research and development expenditures in Belgium amounted to 3.32% of gross domestic product. To achieve the sustainable development goal by 2030, this figure must reach 3%. This objective will be reached by continuing the trend since 2000 (data available in November 2025).
Research and development - Belgium - trend assessment
percentage of gross domestic product
| 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2023 | 2025 | 2030 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| observations | 1.9 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 2.4 | 3.4 | 3.3 | -- | -- |
| trend and extrapolation (November 2025) | 1.9 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 3.1 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 4.2 |
| objective 2020 and beyond | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
Note: 2022 estimated data, 2023 provisional data
Source: Eurostat (2025), Intramural R&D expenditure (GERD) by sectors of performance, rd_e_gerdtot, https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat, last update of data 02/05/2025 11:00 (consulted on 30/06/2025)
Research and development - Belgium and international comparison
percentage of gross domestic product
| 1995 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2018 | 2020 | 2022 | 2023 | 2023//1995 | 2023//2018 | 2023//2000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | 1.7 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 2.4 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 2.4 |
| EU27 | -- | 1.8 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 2.2 | -- | 0.6 | 0.9 |
| //: Average Growth Rates | ||||||||||||
Note: For the EU data are estimated, except for 2015 and 2017. For Belgium, data are estimated for 2022 and provisional for 2023.
Source: Eurostat (2024), Intramural R&D expenditure (GERD) by sectors of performance, rd_e_gerdtot, https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat, last update of data 02/05/2025 11:00 (consulted on 30/06/2025).
Research and development by region - Belgium
percentage of gross domestic product
| 2002 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2016 | 2020 | 2021 | 2021//2002 | 2021//2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brussels-Capital Region | 1.2 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3.9 | 5.6 |
| Flemish Region | 2.1 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 2.9 | 5.9 |
| Walloon Region | 1.9 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 7.7 |
| //: Average Growth Rates | |||||||||
Source: Eurostat (2024), Intramural R&D expenditure (GERD) by sectors of performance, rd_e_gerdtot, https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat, last update of data 02/05/2025 11:00 (consulted on 30/06/2025).
Definition: the indicator measures gross domestic expenditure on research and development (R&D), both public and private, as a percentage of GDP. These expenditures relate to work undertaken on a systematic basis to increase the stock of knowledge, and the use of this stock of knowledge for new applications. Data come from Eurostat.
The following breakdown is available for this indicator: region.
Goal: the share of R&D expenditure must reach 3% of GDP as from 2020.
The Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs adopted by the UN in 2015 include target 9.5: "Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending".
The Federal Long-Term Strategic Vision for Sustainable Development sets this objective: "Research and development budgets will reach at least 3% of GDP and will increase year by year" (Objective 49; Belgian Official Gazette, 08/10/2013).
Since this commitment sets a target of 3% for 2050, this goal is also considered for 2030.
UN indicator: the selected indicator corresponds to indicator 9.5.1 - Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP.
Sources
-
Belgian Official Gazette: http://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/cgi/welcome.pl; research on http://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/doc/rech_f.htm.
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European commission (2010), Europe 2020. A strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:52010DC2020&from=EN (consulted on 24/09/2020).
-
European Council (2002), Presidency conclusions European council meeting in Barcelona 14 and 15 march 2002, http://aei.pitt.edu/43345/1/Barcelona_2002_1.pdf (consulted on 02/10/2025).
- Federal government (2011), Programme national de réforme 2011, p. 25, https://www.be2020.eu/uploaded/uploaded/201105201047030.PNR_2011_fr.pdf (consulted on 02/10/2025).
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