R&D spending

Source: The Economist

"Worldwide R&D investment increased by 6.9% in 2008, having grown by 9% in 2007."

Lets compare these figures with those of some developing nations, based on a recent UNESCO Institute for Statistics survey:

• Brazil in 2006 was estimated to spend $17.4 billion, more than Toyota and Microsoft combined, but less than the top three firms in the graph.
• Colombia spent $532 thousand, less than one-tenth of that spent by Roche or General Motors.
• Uganda spent $119 million in 2007,