U.S. Businesses Report 2008 Worldwide R&D Expense of $330 Billion

Companies located in the United States that have research and development activities—both U.S.-owned businesses and U.S. affiliates of foreign parents—reported worldwide sales of $11 trillion in calendar year 2008 and worldwide R&D expenses of $330 billion (table 1). Most ($234 billion) of that R&D expense was for R&D conducted in companies' own facilities in the United States.

U.S. National Science Foundation report NSF 10-322 | May 2010.