Ökonomische Bewertung von Instrumenten der F&E-Förderung

Abstract: Two modes of public funding of research and development are examined: namely indirect tax incentives and direct subsidies to private sector firms carrying out R&D. As well as considering the arguments concerning claimed advantages and disadvantages of these policy instruments, attention is paid to international experience of the effectiveness of each approach. In particular, insights are gained from a review of empirical studies of input-additionality, i.e. when public R&D spending leads to an increase of private investment. A macro-level study from the OECD presents a suitable state-of-the-art approach for comparing additionality generated by the two kinds of funding instruments. Additionality is implied in both cases, 70 percent for direct grants etc. and 32 percent for the indirect effects of tax incentives. Using these estimates the worth of long-term extra spending in Austria is around EUR 120 m for direct, and EUR 100 m for indirect R&D support.;