The Relationship Between R&D and Company Performance

Author: Tubbs Michael  

Publisher: Industrial Research Institute, Inc

ISSN: 0895-6308

Source: Research-Technology Management, Vol.50, Iss.6, 2007-11, pp. : 23-30

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Abstract

In setting R&D budgets, many companies compare their R&D intensity with that of the average intensity for global companies in their sector using an R&D scoreboard. However, it's important to define the sector or subsector for this purpose carefully since unduly broad sector definitions have led to misleading conclusions. Moreover, R&D is only one of the investments that should be compared in this way—both Capex and market development can be as or more important for some sectors. Competitive advantage can also be gained by increasing R&D at the start of a recession or downturn when competitors may be decreasing R&D a number of companies have shown that this boosts the relative advantage of the company's products and services and hence leads to increased sales and market capitalization in the subsequent upturn.