Catalonia aspires to increase R&D budget to 2.12% of GDP to meet EU average

Catalonia hopes to raise its R&D spending to 2.12% of its GDP by 2024 to meet the current European Union average, as expressed by Catalan president Quim Torra during the presentation of the National Pact for a Knowledge-Based Society working paper approved on Wednesday.

Torra, who described the plan as a "compass" to strengthen the sector, said the need for further investment was necessary "now more than ever" as research and innovation are, according to him, key elements in the post-Covid-19 world.

"The new world will be measured in terms of a capacity to produce and attract talent," the Catalan president stated –  the proposed R&D budget increase would allow for the hiring of another 7,000 researchers.

Furthermore, the 84-point plan would see the percentage of the economy based on knowledge-based activities increase to "values ​​comparable to those of the countries topping the social progress and economic development index," and would promote both public and private spending for this purpose.