In the US, less than 30% of all cancer research was funded by commercial researchers such as pharmaceutical companies.[12] Per capita, public spending on cancer research by taxpayers and charities in the US was five times as much in 2002–03 as public spending by taxpayers and charities in the 15 countries that were full members of the European Union.[12] As a percentage of GDP, the non-commercial funding of cancer research in the US was four times the amount dedicated to cancer research in Europe.[12] Half of Europe's non-commercial cancer research is funded by charitable organizations.[12]