Annual Research And Development Spending Less Than Tk 500 Per Worker: CPD

Most sectors allocate less than Tk 500 per annum for research and development (R&D) per employee, according to the findings by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) released today.

"The relatively low investment in R&D is a cause for concern," the CPD stated.

In contrast, the pharmaceuticals, medicinal chemical, and botanical products industry in the country leads with the highest R&D expenditure per worker among all sectors, dedicating Tk 23,735 per employee each year, as reported by the CPD.

These observations were made by the think tank during a discussion titled "Technology Utilization in the Manufacturing Industries of Bangladesh," held at the BRAC Centre Inn in Mohakhali, the capital.

The CPD pointed out that only one percent of medium-sized companies and five percent of large enterprises allocate funds for R&D.

In his role as the chief guest, Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun emphasized the importance of a collective effort from the private sector to invest in R&D, underlining that it is not a frivolous expenditure.

The event was moderated by Fahmida Khatun, the executive director of CPD.