Northern Ireland invests over £1 billion in research and development
Date published:
Topics:
Business, economy and trade
New accredited official statistics published today present research and development activity in Northern Ireland in 2024.
Key findings
- Total R&D spend reached £1,000.7 million in 2024, representing a modest increase of £4.5 million (0.5%) from 2023 in current prices.
- Businesses accounted for the majority of R&D investment, contributing £713.8 million (71.3% of total spend), though this represents a decrease of 0.7% from the previous year.
- Higher Education establishments increased their R&D expenditure by 4.4%, spending £261.5 million (26.1% of total) – an increase of £10.9 million year-on-year.
- Government departments spent £25.4 million on R&D, representing 2.5% of total expenditure but a decrease of 6.4% from 2023.
- The Services sector dominated business R&D, accounting for over half (51.6%, £368.3 million) of all business expenditure, with Professional, Scientific, Technical, Administrative and Support Service Activities leading the way at £185.6 million.
- Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) made up nearly half of business R&D spend at 48.2% (£344.3 million), whilst large firms (250+ employees) contributed 51.8% (£369.5 million).
- Belfast Local Government District remained the R&D hub, attracting 40.9% (£292.3 million) of total business R&D expenditure.
- Companies primarily self-funded their R&D activities, with 61.2% (£437.1 million) of business R&D funded internally, whilst parent companies contributed 13.1% and other sources 20.8%.
About the publication
The full report contains detailed analysis of R&D activity across Northern Ireland's economy, including breakdowns by:
- Business size, sector, and Local Government District
- Funding sources and types of research (basic, applied, and experimental development)
- Capital and non-capital expenditure patterns
- UK regional comparisons
- Constant price analysis accounting for inflation
The statistics have been accredited as 'Accredited Official Statistics' by the UK Statistics Authority, meeting the highest standards of trustworthiness, quality, and public value.
Further information
Read the full report: Northern Ireland Research & Development Survey 2024