High-tech goods account for around 20% of EU25 imports and exports, finds new study
High-tech goods accounted for about 20% of the EU25's imports and exports in 2004 according to the latest panorama report on science, technology and innovation in Europe. The publication by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities, found Malta derived the greatest proportion of its export revenue from high technology in comparison with other European countries. High-tech goods and services made up 56% of its exports in 2004. Ireland was next with high technology accounting for 29% of the country's exports. The figure could be explained by the government's success in attracting pan-European manufacturing, distribution and service operations for IT manufacturers of the likes of Apple Computer, Dell and Intel. The USA also gained 29% of its export revenue from high technology and Japan 22%. For the UK the figure is 23%, followed by Hungary with 22% and France with 20%. Germany lagged behind at 15%. In addition, eight Member States exported more high-tech goods than they imported, according to these latest figures, which date back to 2004. Germany is in pole position with €112.3 bn in exports compared to €99.9 bn of imports. Next up came Ireland with €24.5 bn versus €14.2 bn, France and its €72.9 bn versus €69.3 bn, Finland with €8.8 bn versus €6.1 bn, and then Sweden with €14.0 bn versus €11.7 bn. For Eurostat, the definition of high-tech encompasses more than just computers and printers. It includes the manufacture of consumer electronic devices, pharmaceutical products, scientific instruments and aircraft. On the service side, IT predominated in the fields of telecommunications, computer and related activities and research and development (R&D). Where Germany excels is in the proportion of its jobs in the high tech manufacturing sector. Of Germany's 196,702 manufacturing companies, 11.2% were in the high tech sector in 2004, ahead of the average of 6.8% for the EU's 25 Member States. The Central and Eastern European countries were not far behind, with the Czech Republic reaching 9%, Slovakia 8.6%, Slovenia 8.4% and Hungary 8.3%.