Running out of steam

The government of Spain increased spending for scientific research by about 15% per year from 1983 to 1991, bringing it from 0.48% of gross national product to 0.9%. But in 1992 the science budget increased only at the rate of inflation, and the same is expected for 1993. This leaves Spain's research spending among the lowest of the European countries. Spanish industry and universities are not making up for the decrease in public funding of research.