Commentary Archive

"While we await future data to assess the full impact of the downturn, Government has been doing all it can to help innovative companies like those featured in this report."

"This country's success ultimately depends on a strong skills base and dynamic R&D both driving an innovative and competitive economy."

"Increasing R&D spend is not only a good 'lead' indicator of successes yet to come, it is also a signal of business confidence."

"Our organic growth strategy has allowed us to build a continuously profitable business with an annual turnover in excess of £175m."

"Ultra, with its UK teaming partner GKN, has developed a revolutionary new system for protecting aircraft structures from ice build up during flight."

"Smith & Nephew is a global medical devices business. We place a very high value on new products..... twenty percent of sales were new products developed in the last three years...we take research and development very seriously. "

"To remain at the forefront of innovation AVEVA is investing nearly 20% of sales in R&D and then has an operating profit of just over 10% of sales."

"It is nevertheless this link between science, engineering and technology (SET), R&D, and wealth creation, which is often a pre-requisite for success."

"The UK Aerospace industry relies absolutely upon a vibrant research and technology base to remain competitive."

"Innovation is the principal source of wealth creation and we need a good supply of well-trained scientists, passionate about research, if we are to compete successfully."

" The share price effects of a growth strategy based largely on acquisitions are examined for a broad spectrum of manufacturing companies."

"Manufacturing excellence is merely a requirement for survival, not a guarantee of long-term success."

"In recent years UK companies in the quoted engineering, automotive and aerospace sectors have spent more on acquisitions than on R&D and capital investment combined."

"The product is the medium by which knowledge-intensive industries deliver the fruits of their intellectual capital."

"London, as a financial centre, has long been supportive of R&D-heavy businesses"