Investment in research and development rose to €62.4 million in 2012, an increase of almost 30 per cent, figures out yesterday show.
The business sector was the main contributor (58 per cent of total) followed by higher education (33 per cent) and the government (nine per cent).
The increase was the result of higher outlays on capital expenditure, including the Life Sciences Centre in San Ġwann being built by the government.
Labour costs represented 52 per cent of total expenditure while the engineering and technology sector accounted for the highest portion of investment followed by medical sciences.