EU countries, indicators R&D, research and development, sustainable development

The aim of the EU policy regarding research and technological development is to contribute to stronger competitiveness on an international scale. The paper focuses on the evaluation of selected indicators of research and development in the EU27, accentuating sustainable development in years 2010, 2015 and 2020. Scandinavian countries have the best position in the majority of the observed indicators of research and development. Luxembourg has a dominant position in granted patents, employment in the knowledge-intensive service sector and in the representation of R&D personnel. Further, hierarchical cluster analysis is applied to evaluate similarities between the EU countries by financial and performance R&D indicators in 2020. The results of cluster analysis show three groups of similar countries according to the R&D indicators with a high, moderate and weak innovation performance and competitiveness.