Hey Big (R&D) Spenders

Nov. 7, 2008

Top corporate spenders in R&D spend nearly half a trillion dollars in 2007.

The top 1,000 corporate spenders on research and development invested $492 billion in 2007, according to the latest research by consulting firm Booz & Co.

That's nearly 10% more than in 2006 and significantly more than the compound annual growth rate of 6.7% since 1999. Two-thirds of that R&D spend went to just three industries in 2007: computing and electronics (29%), healthcare (22%) and automotive (16%).

The top 10 spenders in 2007 are:

Company 2007 R&D Spend (rounded)

Toyota: $8.4 billion
General Motors: $8.1 billion
Pfizer: $8.1 billion
Nokia: $7.7 billion
Johnson & Johnson: $7.7 billion
Ford: $7.5 billion
Microsoft: $7.1 billion
Roche Holding AG: $7.0 billion
Samsung Electronics: $6.5 billion
GlaxoSmithKline: $6.5 billion

Source: Booz & Co.

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About the Author

Jill Jusko

Bio: Jill Jusko is executive editor for IndustryWeek. She has been writing about manufacturing operations leadership for more than 20 years. Her coverage spotlights companies that are in pursuit of world-class results in quality, productivity, cost and other benchmarks by implementing the latest continuous improvement and lean/Six-Sigma strategies. Jill also coordinates IndustryWeek’s Best Plants Awards Program, which annually salutes the leading manufacturing facilities in North America.