CBS :In 2004 Israel ranked first in R&D spending as proportion of GDP

The Central Bureau of Statistics ( CBS) reported last week, on the eve of Israel's day of independence, that the national spending on civilian research and development (R&D) in Israel totaled last year NIS 25.6 billion.
 
The CBS noted that as a proportion of Israel's GDP, this was 4.6%, down from 4.7% in 2003, and 4.8% in 2002. According to the report Israel is ranked first in the world for civilian R&D spending as a proportion of GDP.
 
Sweden is placed second, with R&D spending amounting to 4.1% of GDP and Finland in third place with 3.4%, followed in forth place by Iceland and Japan, both 3.1%. The report noted that Germany spent last year, as a proportion its GDP, 2.5% on civilian R&D, the USA 2.2%, France 2.1%, Britain 1.7%, Canada 1.6% and Australia 1.5%.
 
The report also noted that 75% of total civilian R&D spending was made by the business sector. Government spending on civilian R&D fell last year by 6%.