Research and Development Statistics Survey

Survey’s definition

It is an annual statistics report that focuses on the fields of research and development in Saudi Arabia, with the aim of providing economic indicators for research and development.

Survey’s objectives

Providing data on research and development expenditures and their sources for all sectors.
Providing data on those employed in the field of research and development for all sectors.
Identifying the percentage of spending on research and development of the gross domestic product (GDP).

Main concepts

Spending on research and development:

It includes all expenses related to research and development activities carried out within an economic sector.

Workers of research and development:

All individuals who directly participate in research and development activities, as well as those who provide direct services to these activities such as research and development managers, administrative personnel, technicians, and office employees. Individuals who provide indirect support and assistance services such as restaurant, maintenance, administrative, and security staff are excluded.

Researchers:

Professionals involved in designing and innovating new knowledge. Researchers conduct research and improve or develop concepts, theories, models, technologies, devices, software, or operating methods. Managers and administrators involved in planning and managing the scientific and technical aspects of research are also classified as "researchers". Doctoral students working in research and development should also be counted as "researchers".

Technicians:

Individuals whose main tasks require technical knowledge and expertise in one or more fields such as engineering, physical sciences, life sciences (technicians), social sciences, humanities, and arts. They participate in research and development to carry out scientific and technical tasks that require the application of operational concepts and methods and the use of research equipment, usually under the supervision of researchers.

Part-time:

An employee who works fewer hours than the usual working hours (8 hours per day).

25% of working hours:

An employee who works full time (8 hours per day) for period of three months or a research employee who works for a quarter-time (2 hours per day) for a year.

50% of working hours:

An employee who works full time (8 hours per day) for a period of six months or a research employee who works for a quarter-time (2 hours per day) for a year.

FAQs

What are the main objectives of the survey?

Providing data on expenditures and sources of research and development for all sectors.
Providing data on individuals working in the field of research and development for all sectors.
Determining the percentage of spending on research and development from the gross domestic product.

Who has to complete the questionnaire?

The employee responsible for reports, financial statements, and salary disclosure (company accountant).

How long does it take to complete the questionnaire?

It takes 8-10 minutes to complete it.

Privacy Notice

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) is a government entity with an independent legal personality. It is the only official statistical reference for implementing, supervising, and regulating the statistical work in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It provides statistical products in social, economic, and environmental fields to support policymakers and decision-makers in advancing the implementation of development plans.

You can contact us by clicking on contact us link in our website, or send an email to: info@stats.gov.sa

Date of last update:

The last update on the privacy notice was made on (update date).

What is personal data?

Any data, regardless of its source or form, that may lead to identifying an individual specifically, or that may directly or indirectly make it possible to identify an individual, including name, personal identification number, addresses, contact numbers, bank and credit card numbers, photos, and videos of an individual, and any other data of personal nature.

What personal data is collected?

Various types of personal data and information is collected, which cover all aspects of life in the Kingdom: (demographic, social, economic, environmental, and cultural), including but not limited to:

Full name, age/date of birth, sex, address, contact information (e.g.: email address and phone numbers), ID number, marital status, current job information, previous job information, information about dependents/spouse/household.

How is personal data collected and what is the purpose?

Personal data is collected and obtained "directly or indirectly", using various methods, which include:

- Direct methods of obtaining personal data:

- Field visit to the household or establishment by GASTAT’s staff or one of its representatives.

- Phone call by GASTAT’s staff through the unified phone number:920020081.

- Self-completion on GASTAT’s website.

Indirect methods of obtaining personal data:

Collect cookies and data on how you use our site, including your visit date and time, and the type of browser you use.

By collecting data, GASTAT aims to produce official statistics that serve the public interest, i.e., any personal data collected, whether it belongs to the individual, or on behalf of another individual, will be used for statistical purposes and the production of official statistics.

How do we use your personal data?

We use personal data collected directly or indirectly to produce official statistics that serve the public interest, and support policymakers and decision makers in advancing the implementation of development plans. GASTAT is the only official statistical reference for implementing, supervising, and regulating the statistical work in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

How do we share your personal data?

Your personal information won't be given to any third party for the purpose of direct marketing. We are also dedicated to protecting the confidentiality of all Saudi Arabia’s resident data, and not disclosing it. GASTAT abides by the participation guidelines that the regulators have approved. We also pledge to enforce the laws governing data confidentiality, non-disclosure, and personal data protection vigorously and strictly.

The legal basis for collecting and processing personal data:

According to the policy of personal data protection issued by the National Data Management Office, the legal basis for collecting and processing personal data is:

- our explicit consent, and you can withdraw your consent at any time except for some exceptions explained above, and to do so you can contact the Data Governance Department.

- Legal Obligation: The regulations and bylaws in force - including Royal and High Orders - are a legal basis on which GASTAT can rely if the collection and processing of personal data is necessary to comply with these statutory requirements.

- Public Interest: Statistics collected from personal data aim to support policymakers, and decision makers to advance the implementation of Saudi Arabia's development plans.

How do we store your personal data?

Your personal data is stored securely in the technical assets of GASTAT in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Your personal data is kept for a specified period, after which we dispose of this data securely so that it cannot be accessed or restored again, based on GASTAT’s data preservation and destruction policy.

Rights of personal data owner:

Under the personal data policy, you have the following rights, which depend primarily on the purpose of collecting and processing personal data:

- Right to access personal data: you have the right to request a copy of your personal data, such data will be provided to you within seven working days via email DPO@stats.gov.sa.

- Right to dispose personal data: you have the right to request the disposal of your personal data in certain circumstances that do not contradict with the legal basis based on which data was collected.

- Right to restrict data processing: you can restrict the processing of your personal data in certain circumstances and for specific period of time.

- Right to object to processing: you have the right to object to the processing of your personal data that is not inconsistent with the legal basis.

- Right to transfer your personal data: you have the right to ask us to transfer your personal data - collected directly from you - to another party, or to deliver it to you for a fee. This right cannot be exercised if your consent is the legal basis for processing.

Except as otherwise specified, you are not required to pay any fees for exercising these rights, and in the event that a request is made to exercise one of these rights, you will be responded to within (7 days) from the request date.

Furthermore, it should be stressed here that some of these rights (the right to data disposal, the right to data transfer, and the right to object to processing) are not absolute rights but rather depend on the primary purpose and the legal basis mentioned earlier. Other than that, they are regarded as absolute rights.

For more details about the processing of your personal data and how to exercise your rights, you can contact the Data Protection Officer at GASTAT using the contact information provided below:

Email: DPO@stats.gov.sa

Except as stipulated, you are not required to pay any fee for the exercise of these rights, and if an application is made to exercise one of these rights you will be answered within (7 days) of the date of application.

It must also be emphasized here that some of these rights (the right to destroy data, the right to transmit data, the right to object to processing) are not absolute rights, but rather depend on the main purpose and statutory basis referred to earlier, and otherwise are absolute rights.

For more details about the processing of your personal data and how to exercise your rights, you can contact the Authority's Personal Data Protection Officer according to the contact data below:

Email: DPO@stats.gov.sa

How to submit a complaint?

If you have any complaints or issues regarding our adherence to the National Data Management Office's policy regarding the protection of personal data, you can contact the Data Governance Department via email at info@stats.gov.sa.

You can email the GASTAT’s Data Governance Department at DPO@stats.gov.sa to file a complaint if you are dissatisfied with how we handled your complaint or if we did not reply to you within three working days.

If GASTAT’s Data Governance Department does not resolve your complaint within 7 days, you may also file a complaint with the National Data Management Office about how we use your personal data.

Address of National Data Management Office:

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh.

Website: Complaints (sdaia.gov.sa)

date of data collection

Start of data collection:09/07/2023

End of data collection: 26/08/2023

Data collection tools

Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI).

Questionnaire link

https://fesurvey.stats.gov.sa/economic-survey/auth