Number of full-time equivalent (FTE) professionals engaged in the conception or creation of new knowledge (who conduct research and improve or develop concepts, theories, models, techniques instrumentation, software or operational methods). FTE is the ratio of working hours actually spent on research during a specific reference period (usually a calendar year) divided by the total number of hours conventionally worked in the same period by a researcher.

The unit for the measurement of full-time equivalence is a full-time researchers. The full-time equivalence of part-time teachers is determined by calculating the ratio of their hours worked to the statutory hours worked by a full-time teacher during the school year. For example, a teacher who works one-third of the statutory hours of a full-time teacher equals one-third of a full-time equivalent teacher.