The European Union's government budget allocations for R&D rose to €123.7 billion in 2023, marking a significant 5.3% increase compared to the previous year. Luxembourg and Denmark led in R&D allocation per person (€646.6 and €552.4, respectively), while Romania, Bulgaria, and Hungary lagged behind, with Romania at just €21.2. Over the decade from 2013 to 2023, nearly all EU governments boosted their per capita R&D budgets.

In 2023, the total government budget allocations for research and development (R&D) across the European Union reached €123.7 billion, which equates to 0.73% of the EU's GDP. This represents a 5.3% increase from 2022 (€117.4 billion) and a remarkable 54.8% increase from 2013 (€79.9 billion).

According to Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, the EU's R&D budget allocations amounted to €275.6 per person, a substantial 53.3% rise compared to 2013 (€181.0 per person). Luxembourg recorded the highest allocation per person (€646.6), followed by Denmark (€552.4) and Germany (€529.3). In contrast, Romania (€21.2 per person), Bulgaria (€33.1), and Hungary (€48.1) were at the bottom of the list.

Over the decade from 2013 to 2023, almost all EU governments increased their R&D budgets per capita. Latvia saw the largest percentage increase (+291%), with Poland (+147%) and Bulgaria (+133%) following. Hungary was the only country to experience a decrease in R&D spending per person (-28%).

More than a third of the EU’s 2023 R&D budget was allocated to general university funds, with 35.5% directed towards the general advancement of knowledge. An additional 17.3% was dedicated to advancing knowledge from other sources, 11.0% went to industrial production and technology, 6.9% to health, and 6.0% to space exploration and exploitation.