Romania, in last place in the EU for research and development spending

According to Eurostat data, companies in the European Union invested, on average, 597 euros per inhabitant in research and development (R&D) activities in 2024. Romania is at the bottom of the ranking, with only 55 euros per inhabitant, followed by Latvia (73 euros) and Bulgaria (81 euros). The highest R&D expenditures were recorded in Sweden (1,381 euros), Belgium (1,275 euros), and Denmark (1,241 euros).

Investments in Romania represent less than one-tenth of the EU average and are about 25 times smaller than in Sweden, the European leader. Expenditures for research and development in the private sector are essential for innovation and competitiveness, and the data highlight significant gaps between member states in this area.