Gemiddeld besteedt de EU slechts 1,8% van het BBP aan onderzoek, tegen 2,8% in de VS en 2,9% in Japan. ###>- (PT) It is important to note that despite all the declarations of intent made by the European institutions about the new economy, and despite the trend towards a digital, knowledge-based economy driven by the existence of new goods and services, the European Union' s total research effort as a function of its GDP has been in continuous decline for ten years.