The Internationalization of Corporate R&D

THE INTERNATIONALIZATION OF CORPORATE R&DIn 2004 ITPS surveyed 300 Swedish-owned and foreign-owned companies (representing263,000 employees) in Sweden, about their R&D investment plans (see Figure4-12) (ITPS 2004c). A majority in both groups planned to increase R&D investmentsin Sweden during the next five years. However, one interesting difference can be seenbetween survey response categories “increase the R&D investments” and “increasesignificantly.” In these categories combined, 37 percent of the Swedish-owned companiessaid they were going to increase or significantly increase R&D investments overthe next five years but only 20 percent of the foreign-owned stated the same.Figure 4-12 Future R&D investments in Sweden.40%35%30%25%20%15%10%5%0%DecreasesignificantlyDecreaseUnchangedIncreaseIncreasesignificantlyDo not knowNot relevantfor thecompanyForeign-ow ned Sw edish-ow nedSource: ITPS 2004c and calculations performed for this study.Despite the many difficulties associated with interpreting business climate surveys, theresults in the ITPS study could be an early warning. The future of R&D performed byforeign-owned companies in Sweden must be further studied.124