Muscat – The results of the Oman Research and Development (R&D) Survey 2025 revealed significant growth in experimental research and development activities during 2024, reflecting continued progress in building a national ecosystem that supports innovation and the knowledge economy.
The survey showed that total spending on experimental R&D reached approximately RO160.3mn in 2024, marking an increase compared with previous years. This represents 0.42% of GDP at constant prices and 0.39% of GDP at current prices, highlighting the growing focus on enhancing research capabilities across various sectors.
The data indicated that the private sector accounted for the largest share of total R&D spending at 46%, followed by the government sector at 33% and the higher education sector at 21%. This demonstrates the increasing role of the private sector as a key partner in supporting research and innovation activities.
In terms of human resources, the survey showed that the number of people employed in experimental R&D activities reached 28,768 in 2024. Researchers accounted for approximately 47% of this total, with the remainder comprising technicians and support staff. The number of full-time equivalents stood at 9,516, with continued growth in the participation of national talent in this field.
The results also showed that the number of full-time researchers per million inhabitants increased by 18% in 2024 compared with 2023, reaching 725 researchers per million. This reflects the development of research infrastructure and greater investment in human capital.
Sectoral data revealed that the higher education sector employs the largest proportion of those working in R&D at 36%, followed by the private sector at 33% and the government sector at 31%. This underscores the pivotal role of academic institutions in knowledge production and scientific research.
The Oman R&D Survey is one of the specialised statistical surveys conducted by the National Centre for Statistics and Information. It aims to measure R&D inputs, including human resources, expenditure, and funding, thereby supporting decision-makers and the development of national policies related to innovation and scientific research. These efforts contribute to achieving the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 in building a knowledge-based and technology-driven economy.
