Research and Development 2020

Reference period The reference period for the latest survey was the 2019/20 financial year. Businesses with balance dates falling between 1 January and 30 September supplied data for the year ending 2020. Businesses with balance dates falling between 1 October and 31 December supplied financial data for the year ending 2019. The reference period for the higher education sector is 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019. Summary of changes to the R&D population In 2020, the R&D survey was conducted as part of its usual two-yearly cycle. The sectors of business, government and higher education were surveyed. In 2019, the R&D Survey was conducted only for the business sector, as a special iteration of the survey outside of its usual two-yearly cycle. The sample for the R&D Survey: 2020 consisted of 4,862 businesses. The overall achieved response rate for the R&D Survey: 2020 was 83 percent for business, the target response rate was 85 percent. We identified some businesses as key units – if their response to a survey question about R&D expenditure was considerable in the previous survey period. The target response rate was 100 percent for businesses identified as key units. The table below provides a numerical summary of the changes in the R&D population, as well as associated changes in the sample and number of respondents. Summary of changes in the R&D population for 2020 Year 2012 2014 2016 2018 2019 2020 Population Number Business 4,176 4,068 4,185 4,512 4,775 5,192 Government 111 96 101 97 .. 101 Higher education 8 8 8 8 .. 8 Total 4,296 4,176 4,294 4,617 4,775 5,301 Sample Number Business 3,333 3,606 3,895 4,159 4,386 4,767 Government 111 96 92 90 .. 95 Higher education 8 8 8 8 .. 8 Total 3,447 3,708 3,995 4,257 4,386 4,862 Number of respondents Number Business 2,922 3,114 2,978 3,455 3,663 3,935 Government 99 89 80 78 .. 80 Higher education 8 8 8 8 .. 6 Total 3,030 3,213 3,066 3,541 3,663 4,021 Response rate (1) Percent Business 88 86 77 83 84 83 Government 89 91 87 87 .. 84 Higher education 100 100 100 100 .. 75 Total 88 87 77 83 84 82 Yes to R&D(2) Number Business 1,491 1,587 1,340 1,642 1,814 1,907 Government 63 51 44 46 .. 38 Higher education 8 8 8 8 .. 6 Total 1,560 1,638 1,392 1,696 1,814 1,951 R&D performers as percentage of respondents(3) Percent Business 51 51 45 48 50 48 Government 64 58 55 59 .. 48 Higher education 100 100 100 100 .. 100 Total 51 51 45 48 50 48 Response rate = number of respondents divided by sample. 'Yes to R&D' means that a business is carrying out and/or funding R&D. R&D performers as percentage of respondents = 'yes to R&D' divided by number of respondents. .. Data not collected Note: Due to rounding some figures may not add to stated totals. Response rates by industry The table below shows response rates by industry within the business sector. The overall business sector's response rate was 83 percent, ranging from 79 percent to 90 percent across the different industries. Response rates by industry - business sector Published industry Response rate (percent) Year 2012 2014 2016 2018 2019 2020 Primary 84 85 74 80 83 85 Food product manufacturing 92 89 78 85 84 82 Beverage and tobacco manufacturing 83 80 74 91 89 83 Textiles, clothing, footwear, and leather manufacturing 90 90 85 86 85 84 Petroleum, coal, chemical, and associated product manufacturing 88 88 78 85 84 86 Non-metallic mineral product manufacturing 87 87 81 84 84 77 Metal product manufacturing 92 90 86 90 90 87 Machinery and equipment manufacturing 91 90 82 83 86 87 Other manufacturing 87 90 74 83 88 86 Manufacturing 90 89 80 85 86 85 Wholesale trade 87 87 78 84 85 84 Scientific research and technical services 90 88 81 84 79 85 Computer services 86 83 76 83 83 77 Other services 87 85 75 82 82 81 Service 87 85 77 83 83 81 Total business sector 88 87 77 83 84 83 Bioscience expenditure on R&D Based on consultation with key stakeholders, the questions that related to Bioscience expenditure on R&D was removed since 2016, as they were no longer relevant. en-NZ