Stagnation of R&D intensity a major threat to the European knowledge-based economy

Today the European Commission presents a new publication on Europes position in research and innovation. The Key figures 2005 for science, technology and innovation show worrying trends in R&D investment and innovation in Europe. The growth rate of R&D intensity (R&D expenditure as % of GDP) has been declining since 2000 and is now close to zero. Europe is on track to miss the objective it set itself to boost spending on R&D from 1,9 to 3% by 2010.