According to the statistics on Hong Kong innovation activities released today (December 31) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), the gross domestic expenditure on research and development (GERD) of Hong Kong in 2017 amounted to $21,280 million, representing an increase of 8% when compared with 2016. The GERD as a ratio to the Gross Domestic Product in 2017 was 0.80%. Analysed by performing sector, the expenditure on research and development (R&D) activities performed in the business, higher education and government sectors amounted to $9,412 million, $10,837 million and $1,031 million respectively in 2017. 
 
     R&D activities refer to creative and systematic work undertaken so as to increase the stock of knowledge for devising new and improved products/processes/applications and improve existing products/processes/applications. 
 
     More detailed statistics on Hong Kong innovation activities, together with the concepts and methodology, are given in the report "Hong Kong Innovation Activities Statistics 2017". Users can download this report free of charge at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp120.jsp?productCode=B1110010). The report presents the latest statistics on R&D activities in Hong Kong, with analyses of R&D activities performed in the business, higher education and government sectors. It also contains detailed statistics on technological innovation activities (including product and process innovation) and non-technological innovation activities (including organisational and marketing innovation) in the business sector. 
 
     Enquiries about the statistics on Hong Kong innovation activities can be directed to the Science and Technology Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7290 or email: stb1@censtatd.gov.hk).

Ends/Monday, December 31, 2018
Issued at HKT 16:30

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