Recession is casting a shadow over industry-funded research and development
in the US, a survey of 141 American companies has shown. More than a quarter
of the companies (28 per cent) said that they expect to reduce their spending
on R&D this year, says the Industrial Research Institute, based in Washington
DC. This compares with only 19 per cent last year and 16 per cent a year
earlier.
Only 24 per cent of the companies plan to spend more on R&D, the
same as last year but down from 41 per cent in 1990.
The survey also confirms a drift towards cooperative R&D between
firms. Almost half (48 per cent) anticipate an increase in alliances and
joint ventures for R&D, the same as last year and up 6 per cent from
1990.
