OECD calls for greater EU research spending

EU investment in R&D “should be significantly increased” and programmes to facilitate greater mobility given more support, according to the OECD.

A significant increase is warranted given that only 13 per cent of the EU’s budget goes on R&D despite evidence that EU spending in this area generates more value than national funding, according to an OECD report published on 6 May.

Higher EU spending on R&D should be funded through increased income-based contributions from member states, new sources of revenue, reallocation or a combination of the above, it said.