Topic summary
Research and development

General term for activities in connection with corporate or governmental innovation Cycle of research and development Spending on research and development as share of GDP (2015) Research and development (R&D or R+D), aka Research and Technical (or Technological) Development (RTD), is the set of innovative activities undertaken by corporations, wealthy industrialists, or governments in developing new services or products. R&D constitutes the first stage of development of a potential new service or the production process. Although R&D activities may differ across businesses, the primary goal of an R&D department is to develop new products and services to answer questions, solve problems, and drive innovation. R&D differs from the vast majority of corporate activities in that it is not intended to yield immediate profit, and generally carries greater risk and an uncertain return on investment. R&D is crucial for acquiring larger shares of the market through new products. R&D&I represents R&D with innovation. Background Researchers in rd per million people New product design and development is often a crucial factor in the survival of a company. In a global industrial landscape that is