A corporate R&D metric. (4th August 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kennedy, Kevin J.; Holmfeld, John D.
• Is Part Of: International journal of technology management. Volume 4:Number 6(1989)
• Page Start: 665
• Page End: 672
• Publication Date: 2014-08-04
• Subjects: R&amp -- D expenditure -- innovation -- technology transfer -- corporate restructuring -- science publication -- publication patterns -- disaggregation -- research and development -- R&amp -- D metrics; Technology -- Management -- Periodicals; 658.4062
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0267-5730

Abstract

An examination of corporate R&D expenditure and science publication patterns is presented. In general, large corporations with traditionally excellent research centres maintain a strong science publication performance. However, large companies with correspondingly significant R&D expenditures, such as the top two automobile manufacturers, can exhibit relatively poor scientific publication performance per R&D dollar spent, depending upon the industrial sector. Pharmaceutical companies, typically with 20, 000 to 40, 000 employees, exhibit R&D expenditures of the order of 6.5 to 12% of sales. These companies achieve the highest individual and aggregate publication performance, per R&D dollar invested. Smaller, high–technology firms, often with fewer than 5000 employees, evidence little or no science publication contributions. In these firms, either product development assumes R&D expenditures or technology transfer via scientific publication is not taking place. Hence, corporate restructuring and disaggregation may significantly alter the nature of the technological enterprise.