The scale of R&D expenditure by sector
Figure 6 traces the pattern of change in the level of R&D investment over the last five years among the ten largest sectors in the UK1000 defined by their investment in R&D. As in past Scoreboards, this highlights the continued rise in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. Aerospace and defence, software and computer services firms, banks and oil and gas producers all continued to post steady growth in R&D investment throughout the period. In absolute terms, automobiles and parts companies and food producers invested the same amount in 2008 as five years ago. After years of increasing investment, R&D spending in the fixed line telecommunications sector fell for the first time, in 2008.
The strong growth in the banking sector came from the biggest banks, in particular Barclays, which has increased its R&D spending by 234% over the past four years.
Figure 6: Growth in R&D expenditure by sector across UK1000 (£m)
Figure 7: Growth in R&D expenditure by sector across G1000 (£m)
