R&D spending could help global productivity recovery
Thursday, May 26, 2016
Significance
High on the agenda is the need for science to work across disciplines to address complex societal problems. In 2015, research and development (R&D) funding increased by 5.1% across the top 1,000 global R&D corporate investors, almost back in line with its ten-year trend of 5.4%. Europe has lost ground, with the largest proportion of top R&D-performing firms based in the United States and the largest share of research being performed in Asia-Pacific.
Impacts
- Low euro-area growth is causing R&D to leave Europe, with France, the United Kingdom and Germany experiencing sharp spending declines.
- China and India will benefit from growth in global R&D, but few Indian firms are major performers thus far.
- Greater connectivity and mobility will require more collaboration, especially in combating the threat of pandemics and climate adaptation.