Public funding in R&D and R&D outcome sustainable development: Analysis of Member States EU

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between public funding in research and development (R&D) and the sustainable development outcomes within the European Union (EU) member states from 2000 to 2022. It investigates the allocation and effectiveness of public funding towards R&D in sustainable technologies and its alignment with the EU's strategic growth and sustainability goals. Through a mixed-method approach, including descriptive analysis, econometric modelling, and a review of pa-tents and scientific publications, the study addresses three core research questions: the extent of public R&D funding, the R&D outcomes in sustainable development, and the efficacy of recent EU public research funding in fostering innovation in sustainable technologies. The analysis reveals that while there is a positive correlation between targeted public expenditures and R&D outcomes, disparities exist among member states in terms of investment levels and innovation outputs. The paper also dis-cusses the implications of these findings in the context of the EU's broader sustainability objectives, including the European Green Deal, and suggests pathways for future research to enhance the impact of public R&D funding on sustainable development.