Spanish textile sector R&D expenditure dips 51.6% in 2012

25 Nov '13

2 min read

Spanish textile industry’s expenditure on research and development (R&D) activities from 2007 to 2012 has declined by 51.6 percent to €29.7 million, as per the data released by the National Institute of Statistics (INE).

According to the Statistics on R&D Activities Year 2012 data released by INE, the decline in spending for R&D activities in the Spanish textiles sector was accompanied by the decrease in personnel employed in textile sector enterprises engaged in R&D, reports modaes.es.

In 2012, the textile industry in Spain had nearly 446.6 workers (working full time) in activities related to R&D, whereas in 2007, there were 918 employees in the Spanish textile sector engaged in R&D.

As per the data, the reduction registered in R&D personnel for textile sector was highest in the number of researchers, which declined by 61 percent to 151 in 2012, compared to the 387 researchers employed in the sector for R&D in 2007.

Meanwhile, the garment sector of Spain has intensified its efforts for research and development, as the sector’s expenditure on R&D activities incurred a growth of 27.3 percent to €56.2 million, as compared to 2007.

However, the overall staff employed in the Spanish clothing sector for R&D activities saw a decline of 14.2 percent in 2012, compared to 2007, whereas, the number of researchers employed in garment sector for R&D in 2012 were 178, indicating a rise of 44.2 percent in 2012, compared to 2007.

The R&D statistics have been prepared by the INE following the methodological recommendations of the Proposed Standard Practice for Surveys on Research and Experimental Development of the OECD (Frascati Manual). In particular, the new version expressly recommends that all companies carrying out R&D work, either continuously or sporadically, be included in R&D surveys.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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