When it comes to how many dollars are being spent on R&D as a percentage of sales, the numbers vary wildly, according to consulting firm Booz & Co.'s annual review of corporate R&D spending. While the computing and electronics, healthcare and auto industry sectors dominated overall R&D spending in 2007 with a combined total of $330 billion, the landscape shifts when the intensity of R&D spend is examined. For example, as a percentage of sales the auto industry spent 3.9% on R&D. That leaves it well short of a top industry sector when it comes to the intensity of R&D spend. Additional findings from Booz & Co. show:
13.6% R&D spend as a percentage of sales for the software and Internet industry
13.4% R&D spend as a percentage of sales for the healthcare industry
7% R&D spend as a percentage of sales for the computer and electronics industry
4.9% R&D spend as a percentage of sales for the aerospace and defense industry
1% R&D spend as a percentage of sales for the chemicals and energy industry
See Also