MIXED R&D OUTLOOK FOR INDUSTRY

Abstract

THE OUTLOOK FOR U.S. industrial research and development in 2007 is mixed, according to the Industrial Research Institute (IRI). Compared with 2006, total R&D spending will rise in 2007, with more of an emphasis on applied research and less on basic research, but the number of R&D personnel will remain virtually unchanged. These are some of the conclusions of IRI's 23rd annual R&D Trends Forecast, which is based on survey responses from 99 of the institute's member organizations. IRI is an association of more than 200 organizations, primarily industrial companies, that collectively invest $70 billion per year in R&D worldwide. Companies are much more bullish about R&D spending than they've been for years, according to the IRI survey. In fact, some 86% of respondents intend to raise their R&D spending this year. More than one-fourth will boost R&D spending by 5% or more. To track annual variations in company intentions, IRI subtracts the percentage of ...