The spatial dimension of the R&D expenditures in the Belgian enterprise sector

This empirical article describes the spatial dimension of R&D expenditures in the business enterprise sector in Belgium. When looking at the regional dispersion of GDP per employee between 1992 and 1999 at the "regional", "provincial", and "district" level, we find that the inequality grows and that the highest dispersion of GDP per employee is at the district level. R&D is considered to be a main source for economic development. This leads us to believe that within the Belgian regions dispersion of R&D activities is not decreasing, and as such--in contrast with most national and international practice--this level is not the most appropriate level to conduct a "regional" R&D study. This article is a first attempt to analyse, in a more detailed way and on the basis of the original data stemming from the R&D surveys, the private R&D expenditures in Belgium at the district level.