Investment in R&D by spanish biotech companies increases by 7.1% in 2023, surpassing 2.7 billion euros
According to the INE report, if we exclusively analyze the figure for companies, we observe that R&D investment increased by 5% compared to 2021. In 2022, the figure stood at 1.223 billion euros, rising to 1.283 billion euros in 2023.
The National Institute of Statistics (INE) has published its "Statistics on the Use of Biotechnology" with the final data for 2023, revealing that total R&D investment across all executing sectors involved in biotechnology — including Public Administration, Higher Education, Non-Profit Institutions, and Companies — reached 2.748 billion euros in 2023. This figure represents a 7.1% increase compared to 2021.
Companies continue to be the leading sector for R&D investment, accounting for 46.7% of the total. They are followed by Public Administration (28.7%), Higher Education (24.2%), and Private Non-Profit Institutions (PNPI), which accounted for 0.4%.
Focusing solely on companies, R&D investment increased by 5% compared to 2021. In 2022, the figure was 1.223 billion euros, rising to 1.283 billion euros in 2023.
Regarding the source of funding, the largest share comes from companies themselves, accounting for 41.7% of the total, followed by the Public Administration, contributing 42.4%. When looking at companies alone, 80.4% of the funds come either from the companies' own resources or from affiliated or other companies. The next largest source, though significantly smaller, comes from foreign funds (either from foreign companies, EU aid programs, or international institutions) at 11%. Public Administration funds (such as regional or national grants and loans) account for 9.9%. This distribution marks a shift from previous years, as public funding, previously the second-largest source, has now been surpassed by foreign funding.
In biotech companies, R&D personnel decreased slightly by -0.85%. In 2022, there were 12,993 people dedicated to R&D in biotech firms, compared to 12,883 in 2023. Women continue to represent nearly 60% of R&D personnel.
Human health and food remain the main application areas for biotechnology, with the highest percentage of company involvement. 48% of companies focus on human health, 29.4% on food, 25.7% on agriculture and forestry, and 18% on the environment.