Number of 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).

Data on the total number of persons who are mainly or partially employed in R&D. This includes staff employed both full-time and part-time. Headcount data reflect the total number of persons employed in R&D, independently from their dedication. These data allow links to be made with other data series, such as education and employment data, or the results of population censuses. They are also the basis for calculating indicators analysing the characteristics of the R&D workforce with respect to age, gender or national origin.