Cnet News: Europe sees rise in R&D spending - byTim Ferguson
Europe sees rise in R&D spending - by Tim Ferguson
EU-based companies increased their research and development investments over the past fiscal year, but their spending continues to lag behind competitors outside the bloc. R&D spending in the top 1,000 European Union-based companies grew 7.4 percent during the period. But that figure was 10 percent for the top 1,000 non-EU companies, according to the 2007 European Union Industrial R&D Investment Scoreboard. Still, the latest EU figures are an improvement over 2006 when R&D spending at the top 1,000 EU companies grew by 5.3 percent.
Janez Potocnik, EU commissioner for science and research, said the positive upward trend in R&D investment over the past two years is encouraging. The EU's innovation strategy is "on the right track," he said.
