The latest official statistics for research and development (R&D) indicate that, prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, R&D expenditure in the OECD area grew in real terms by 4% in 2019. According to the latest data published on 18 March in the OECD Main Science and Technology Indicators (MSTI) database, OECD R&D intensity (domestic expenditure on R&D expressed as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP)) rose from 2.4% in 2018 to nearly 2.5% in 2019. […]