Sector Summaries

Aerospace and Defence

The aerospace & defence sector was the second largest contributor to R&D in the UK850 and the seventh largest in the G1400 in 2007.
Globally, the largest R&D investor in the aerospace & defence sector was EADS which ranked thirtieth amongst the G1400.
Rolls-Royce and Airbus were the two largest investors in R&D in the UK850: they ranked seventh and eight respectively and together spent 64% of the sector total, and 4% of the UK850 spend.
One more aerospace & defence company entered the UK850 bringing the total to 25.
Investment in R&D by foreign owned companies in the UK850 increased.
R&D in the aerospace & defence continues to grow more quickly than sales amongst the largest investors.

The automobiles & parts sector was the fourth largest contributor to R&D in both the UK850 and the G1400 in 2007.
Eight of the top 25 R&D investors globally are automobiles & parts companies. In contrast, only three UK companies are amongst the 25 leading UK investors in R&D.
Foreign companies dominate R&D spend in the UK automobiles & parts sector: they spent 92% of the sector total, and over 5% of UK850 spend.
Seven more automobiles & parts companies entered the UK850 bringing the total to 30.
R&D in the automobiles & parts continues to grow more quickly than sales amongst the largest investors. This has not been the case amongst the UK850.

The banks sector was the sixth largest contributor to R&D in the UK850 and the 16th in the G1400 in 2007.
None of the top 25 R&D investors globally is a bank.
Three banks are, however, amongst the top 25 UK investors in the UK850: they dominate R&D spend in the UK banks sector accounting for 87% of the sector total, and 4% of UK850 spend.
Only two other banks are part of the UK850 making five companies in total.
R&D spending by banks continues to grow more quickly than sales amongst the largest investors.

The fixed line and mobile communications sectors were the fifth and 12th largest contributors respectively to R&D in the UK850 in 2007.
Three firms – BT (ranked 3rd ), Vodafone (ranked 14th) and Telefonica O2 (ranked 24th) - were amongst the top 25 R&D investors within the UK850.
These three companies dominate R&D spend in the UK fixed line and mobile communications sectors: they spent 95% of the sector total, and 7% of the UK850 spend.
R&D in the fixed line and mobile communications sectors continues to grow more quickly than sales amongst the largest investors.

The pharmaceuticals & biotechnology sector was the largest contributor to R&D in both the UK850 and the G1400 in 2007.
Eight of the top 25 R&D investors globally are pharmaceuticals companies: they include two UK firms, GlaxoSmithKline and Astra Zeneca.
GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZeneca dominate R&D spend in the UK pharmaceuticals sector: they spent (89% of the sector total, and 37% of the UK850 spend).
Sixteen more pharmaceuticals & biotechnology companies entered the UK850 bringing the total to 130.
R&D in the pharmaceuticals & biotechnology industry continues to grow more quickly than sales amongst the largest investors.

In 2007, the software & computer services sector was the third largest contributor to R&D in the UK850 and the fourth in the G1400.
Two of the top 25 R&D investors globally are software & computer services companies: these include Microsoft, the world’s largest investor.
R&D spending by companies in the UK software & computer services sector remains relatively fragmented: the five largest companies in terms of R&D spent 36% of the sector total.
Six more software & computer services companies entered the UK850 bringing the total to 131, more than any other sector.
R&D in the software & computer services continues to grow more quickly than sales amongst the largest investors.