Central European countries spend less than 1% of GDP on R&D, besides Slovenia, which spends 2.6%. But a survey of 411 firms from 11 Central European countries (Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia) revealed that companies in the region as a whole plan to increase their short- and long-term investment in R&D. The Baltic companies, though, predicted a medium-term (3–5 years) drop in spending. The most important factors for all respondents in increasing future short-term (1–2 years) R&D investment were expanding the types of benefits (75%), such as subsidies and tax deductions, and having sufficient researchers with the necessary skills and experience (71%). Many companies (66%) engaged in collaborations for R&D projects, mostly out of necessity for completing projects (77%). The most common reason (44%) for companies not collaborating was the presence of a company R&D center.

Source: Deloitte