OREANDA-NEWS. December 10, 2012. Spending on research and development in 2011 increased to 2.41 percent of GDP in 2011, exceeding the EU average - 2.03 percent - for the first time.

Statistics Estonia revealed that the country has increased its investments into research and development to 384.5 million euros in 2011, a two-thirds increase over 2010. Investments into developing technologies in the shale oil industry accounted for one-third of the sum.

Not including the oil refining sector, private sector R&D spendng increased 29 percent faster than in the non-profit-seeking institutional sector. Taken together with the oil industry, growth doubled.