In light of the recent methodological changes to the survey we have created a development plan which sets out the progress made by the Northern Ireland Statistics Research Agency (NISRA) in developing Northern Ireland Research and Development statistics over the last two years along with providing an overview of the plans for the next year. The full development plan can be accessed here:
Northern Ireland Research and Development Survey Development Plan
In September 2024, a R&D user group meeting was held which sought to gather feedback from users on R&D statistics and users' views on the recent methodological changes made to the survey. A follow up consultation survey was sent to users. A results paper has been published which provides a summary of the feedback gathered from this consultation, and can be accessed here:
Northern Ireland Research and Development User Consultation: Results
Results for periods prior to 2022 are only available at the NI level in the most recent release. Work is underway, and we aim to publish more detailed time series estimates as soon as possible, with users being updated when this has been completed.
The 2023 R&D Survey results indicate that £1,117.8 million (m) was spent on R&D in NI in 2023 (10.3% more than in 2022). Of the £1,117.8m, £840.1m (75.2%) was spent by Businesses, £250.6m (22.4%) by Higher Education Establishments and £27.2m (2.4%) by Government Departments.
Key points – published 12th December 2024
- The methodology employed to produce Business R&D spend estimates has been improved to better represent R&D performance across the Northern Ireland economy. This improvement has produced figures which provide the best current estimate of Business level R&D spend at the Northern Ireland level and has been validated against other available data.
- Total expenditure on R&D in Northern Ireland increased by 2.8% in real terms between 2022 and 2023.
- Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs, 0-249 employees) accounted for 49.2% of BERD in 2023. Large firms (250+ employees) accounted for 50.8% of BERD.
- There were 11,480 FTEs working in an R&D role in 2023 (up 14.5% since 2022).
- In 2023, around half of all business expenditure on R&D can be attributed to the Services sector (£433.9m; 51.6%).
- Almost half (46.1%, £387.3m) of total BERD was attributed to companies in the Belfast Local Government District (LGD) in 2023.
- The majority of funding for BERD in 2023 was self-funded by the companies carrying out the R&D work (63.2%).
The figures included in the bulletin detail the best current estimates of R&D spend at a Northern Ireland level, which have been validated against other available data. However, there is less certainty in the estimates below the total Northern Ireland level.
To maintain the quality of the Northern Ireland R&D statistics, this publication will feature a reduced number of detailed breakdowns compared with pre-2021 R&D releases. The existing Accredited Official Statistics designation (previously referred to as National Statistics) for the Northern Ireland level R&D figures will remain (Chart 1, Chart 2, Chart 3, Chart 10 and Chart 11 of the bulletin) as they comply with the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics. To help convey the developmental nature of the sub-NI components, the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) has asked the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) to temporarily pause the Accredited Statistics status of more detailed breakdowns. The OSR confirmed their agreement to this approach in their letter published on 8th December 2022.
In July 2024 OSR published their Spotlight on Quality Assessment for the Northern Ireland R&D statistics. This identified two requirements that NISRA need to fulfil in order to see the official statistics reaccredited. Work is on-going to address these requirements, and we will further engage with OSR once this has been completed.
NISRA has worked closely with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) colleagues to redesign the BERD methodology to be more reflective of R&D performance across the Northern Ireland economy. This has ensured that there is consistency in approach and coherence with the methodological improvements implemented by the ONS for the UK equivalent figures. Further information on methodological improvements that have occurred over the previous two years can be found at the below links.
Business enterprise research and development, UK - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)
Methodological improvements have been implemented at the Northern Ireland level from 2018 to 2021 and again from 2022 to 2023, meaning that comparisons of detailed estimates before 2018 are not possible.