R&D personnel and researchers in the Netherlands, by sector
R&D
personnel
research
In this data publication we show the number of total R&D personnel in the Netherlands and the share of researchers as a category within R&D personnel, differentiated by various sectors.
In short
- Over the past period, there has been a continuous growth in the size of the R&D personnel.
- More than 70% of R&D personnel in the Netherlands are employed at companies.
- More than 20% of R&D personnel are employed in higher education institutions.
| Research institutes | Higher education | Business | |
| 2000 | 13,7 | 25,6 | 47,5 |
| 2001 | 13,9 | 26,4 | 48,4 |
| 2002 | 13,7 | 26,9 | 47 |
| 2003 | 14,3 | 27,5 | 44,5 |
| 2004 | 13,6 | 28,4 | 50 |
| 2005 | 12,7 | 28,9 | 48,6 |
| 2006 | 12,8 | 28,6 | 52,8 |
| 2007 | 12,1 | 28,6 | 49,2 |
| 2008 | 12,2 | 29,1 | 48 |
| 2009 | 11,4 | 29,5 | 42,3 |
| 2010 | 11,4 | 30,2 | 54,1 |
| 2011* | 11,2 | 32,2 | 74 |
| 2012* | 13,5 | 32 | 76,8 |
| 2013* | 8,2 | 32,3 | 95,1 |
| 2014 | 8,3 | 33,2 | 94,6 |
| 2015 | 8,3 | 33,6 | 97,4 |
| 2016 | 8,6 | 33,3 | 102,6 |
| 2017 | 8,6 | 34,4 | 107,5 |
| 2018 | 9,3 | 34,7 | 112,8 |
| 2019 | 9,3 | 36 | 115,1 |
| 2020 | 9,6 | 38,4 | 118,4 |
| 2021 | 9,6 | 40,5 | 123,6 |
| 2022 | 9,2 | 42,9 | 134,9 |
Data: Download as CSV file
Source: CBS, Statline (Statistics Netherlands)
Notes: The 2021 figures are final and 2022 figures are preliminary. There are three trend breaks, in 2011, 2012 and 2013. In 2011, companies with fewer than ten employees were also included in the R&D statistics. Since 2012, the number of surveyed institutions has increased significantly. In 2019, Statistics Netherlands has revised the R&D statistics for the Netherlands so that it is in line with the international guidelines described in the Frascati manual. This revision has been retroactive to 2013.
| Research institutes | Higher education | Business | |
| 2000 | 6,6 | 14,9 | 20 |
| 2001 | 7,4 | 15,5 | 22,4 |
| 2002 | 7,3 | 16 | 20,4 |
| 2003 | 7,7 | 16,3 | 19,4 |
| 2004 | 7,8 | 17,1 | 23,2 |
| 2005 | 7 | 17,7 | 22,9 |
| 2006 | 7,1 | 17,9 | 28 |
| 2007 | 7 | 18,2 | 26 |
| 2008 | 7 | 18,5 | 24,9 |
| 2009 | 6,8 | 19 | 20,5 |
| 2010 | 7 | 19,4 | 26,6 |
| 2011* | 6,8 | 21 | 33,6 |
| 2012* | 8,6 | 21 | 43,7 |
| 2013* | 5,6 | 21,2 | 56 |
| 2014 | 5,4 | 21,9 | 56,4 |
| 2015 | 5,5 | 22,3 | 55,6 |
| 2016 | 5,7 | 22,2 | 59,7 |
| 2017 | 5,6 | 22,8 | 62,7 |
| 2018 | 5,8 | 23 | 66,6 |
| 2019 | 6,1 | 23,8 | 67,8 |
| 2020 | 6,3 | 25,2 | 70,6 |
| 2021 | 6,4 | 25,3 | 74,4 |
Data: Download as CSV file
Source: Eurostat
Notes: The 2021 figures are preliminary.
There are three trend breaks, in 2011, 2012 and 2013. In 2011, companies with fewer than ten employees were also included in the R&D statistics. Since 2012, the number of surveyed institutions has increased significantly. In 2019, Statistics Netherlands has revised the R&D statistics for the Netherlands so that it is in line with the international guidelines described in the Frascati manual. This revision has been retroactive to 2013.
| Business | Higher Education | Research institutes | |
| 2000 | 42,1 | 58,2 | 48 |
| 2001 | 46,3 | 58,7 | 53,1 |
| 2002 | 43,4 | 59,5 | 53,1 |
| 2003 | 43,6 | 59,3 | 53,7 |
| 2004 | 46,5 | 60,2 | 57,1 |
| 2005 | 47,1 | 61,2 | 55,3 |
| 2006 | 53 | 62,6 | 55,9 |
| 2007 | 52,7 | 63,6 | 57,5 |
| 2008 | 51,9 | 63,7 | 57,5 |
| 2009 | 48,4 | 64,3 | 59,7 |
| 2010 | 49,1 | 64,2 | 60,9 |
| 2011* | 45,4 | 65,1 | 60,2 |
| 2012* | 56,9 | 65,7 | 63,6 |
| 2013* | 58,9 | 65,6 | 68,1 |
| 2014 | 59,6 | 66 | 65 |
| 2015 | 57,1 | 66,5 | 66,4 |
| 2016 | 58,2 | 66,8 | 66,2 |
| 2017 | 58,3 | 66,3 | 65 |
| 2018 | 59 | 66,3 | 62,7 |
| 2019 | 58,9 | 66,1 | 65 |
| 2020 | 59,6 | 65,6 | 65,6 |
| 2021 | 59,2 | 65,8 | 64,6 |
| 2022 | 59,8 | 66,0 | 64,1 |
Data: Download as CSV file
Source: CBS, Statline (Statistics Netherlands)/Eurostat
Notes: The 2021 and 2022 figures are preliminary. are preliminary. There are three trend breaks, in 2011, 2012 and 2013. In 2011, companies with fewer than ten employees were also included in the R&D statistics. Since 2012, the number of surveyed institutions has increased significantly. In 2019, Statistics Netherlands has revised the R&D statistics for the Netherlands so that it is in line with the international guidelines described in the Frascati manual. This revision has been retroactive to 2013.
More R&D personnel in all sectors
In recent period, there is a continuous growth in the amount of R&D personnel. From 2013, R&D staff for companies, higher education institutions and research institutions is growing steadily. In 2020, 72% of R&D staff in the Netherlands work in the business sector, 23% in higher education and 5% in a research institution.
Share of researchers is increasing
We see a similar picture among researchers, who form a large part of the R&D staff. Researchers in the business sector in particular have grown rapidly since 2013: by 24%. Researchers in higher education and research institutions are also growing, but at 10% and 9% respectively less rapidly than at companies.
For an explanation of the used definitions and acronyms we kindly refer to the web page Definitions for Science in Figures.