R&D - Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP in NZ and selected countries 2018–2023

Research and development (R&D): R&D performed by enterprises are generally investigative work that is of actual or potential use in the development of new or enhanced materials, products, devices, processes, or services. R&D directed towards duplicating work already developed by others is only included if the knowledge or technology required for the development is not available to the enterprise.

GDP is based on Stats NZ's GDP current price expenditure measure for the year ended 31 March. GDP figures for 2023 are provisional.
The 2023 survey was conducted from August to December 2023, and businesses were asked to report on their latest financial year for which information was available as at August 2023.
Stats NZ sourced figures for countries other than New Zealand from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Main Science and Technology Indicators (MSTI).

http://datainfoplus.stats.govt.nz/Item/nz.govt.stats/4394653f-7947-487b-b0c7-dd48edb45822#/nz.govt.stats/aebdaaeb-a440-4869-8db0-928cb2f03a97
https://stats.govt.nz/methods/an-exploration-into-research-and-development-r-and-d-expenditure-definitions-and-comparative-data/

Only businesses that Stats NZ pre-identified as carrying out R&D are included. The business sector includes central and local government-owned trading enterprises.
The government sector excludes central and local government-owned trading enterprises but includes scientific research.
The higher education sector includes 8 universities (and their commercial arms).

Expenditure figures exclude GST.

In 2019, 2021, and 2023, special iterations of the R&D survey were conducted for the business sector only.
The R&D survey has been conducted by Stats NZ since 2006. However, due to major survey changes, only data from 2016 onwards is directly comparable.
The government and higher education sectors are surveyed every two years and will be included in the 2024 survey.
A sample of 5,023 businesses was selected from a population of known R&D performers.

At URL provided, download 'Research and development survey: 2023' from the 'Download Data' heading

The Research and Development Survey, conducted every two years, is a joint survey with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). The survey measures the level of research and development (R&D) activity, employment, and expenditure by business sector enterprises, government departments, government-owned trading entities, and universities.

The R&D Survey is a postal survey consisting of four questionnaires: a business questionnaire, a government questionnaire, a CRI questionnaire, and a higher education (universities) questionnaire. These questionnaires are specifically designed to capture data on R&D from these different organisation types.
The 2023 survey was conducted from August to December 2023 on the business sector only, and businesses were asked to report on their latest financial year for which information was available as at August 2023.