Growth of R&D

-- Funding and technology cooperation in the past 17 years indicate that research and development (R&D) is becoming increasingly globalised. Foreign funding of industrial R&D in the US increased almost 800 per cent between 1983 and 1990 -- crossing the US $14 billion mark -- and is still growing. In contrast, US corporates invested about US $10 billion in R&D abroad. Almost 15 per cent of industrial R&D funding in the UK, and 18 per cent in Canada, comes from foreign sources. Strategic technology alliances in the same period increased three-fold. Moreover, residents of R&D-rich nations are increasingly seeking patents in other countries. Industrial patenting rose two to three times in member nations of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.