R&D Management

Market volatility dominated the R&D landscape following President Trump’s tariff actions. The R&D World Index (RDWI) for the week ending April 4, 2025, reflected the initial shock, closing down a significant -9.28% at 3,506.27, with significant losses across all 25 member companies. Auto companies have been especially hard hit. To date, losses range from –1.44%…

For Joshua New, Ph.D., distinguished R&D staff member at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory and R&D World’s 2024 Researcher of the Year, innovation starts with a core instinct: “I do my level best to never lay my hand to an object or process without asking — how can this be made better?”…

A substantial fire disrupted operations at SPS Technologies’ manufacturing facility in Abington Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, on Feb. 17, 2025. SPS, a notable producer of aerospace fasteners—including Space Shuttle components—employs high-temperature forging, fine metal powder milling, and chemical electroplating to craft superalloy-based products. These hazardous-material processes had faced prior EPA citations for waste management lapses.…

After establishing the “Department of Government Efficiency” last month, President Trump has announced a DOGE “Workforce Optimization Initiative” that could have ramifications for thousands of science and regulatory roles across agencies—from the National Science Foundation to the FDA. In particular, the new executive order aims to reform the federal workforce. Agencies are required to limit…

The world of software-based product development — at least in Big Tech — is chaotic of late. “In early 2025, tech layoffs are not only happening at a rapid clip, but these cuts are also getting ‘uglier.’” Yet according to a recent poll on the professional network Blind, most respondents (over 90% — 324 v.…

In this week’s R&D Market Pulse, the $29.1 billion Constellation-Calpine mega-merger promises to reshape U.S. energy, the Commerce Department awards a third CHIPS for America facility to Arizona State University, and new AI export restrictions put China on notice. Meanwhile, Elon Musk’s xAI rolls out a consumer app, BlackRock withdraws from a major climate initiative,…

The past couple of years have delivered a paradox for STEM talent in the U.S. Despite macroeconomic headwinds prompting notable job cuts at employers from Big Tech to Big Pharma, science- and engineering-focused firms still struggle to find the specialized expertise they need. Recent Indicators reports from the National Science Board (NSB) describe an “accelerating…

As 2025 gets underway, concerns are mounting about the stability of some high-paying STEM and R&D roles in an economy many once believed would remain recession-proof for engineers, software developers, and research scientists. A few bright spots include quickly-growing positions such as data scientists (36% growth, $108,020 median pay, according to BLS in 2024), computer…

The R&D World Index (RDWI) for the week ending January 3, 2025, closed at 3,862.49 for the 25 companies in the RDWI — down –0.72% (or -28.10 basis points). Five RDWI members gained value last week, led by AbbVie (+1.80%), while Roche Holdings AG rose the least (+0.31%). Meanwhile, twenty RDWI members dipped, ranging from…

The R&D World Index (RDWI) for the week ending December 27, 2024, closed at 3,890.59, rising 1.77% (or 67.68 basis points). Automotive stocks, in particular, drove the uptick, with Honda surging by 20.39% after announcing a merger plan with Nissan. Meanwhile, tech giants showed mixed results, as IBM slid slightly (-0.26%) and Microsoft dropped -1.38%.…

The life sciences and analytical instruments industry has been on a roller coaster for the past several years. When the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in 2020, businesses rapidly expanded to meet the moment. But four years later, the market is decidedly unusual, for lack of a better term. Many analytical instruments organizations are rife with…

The architecture of progress extends beyond laboratories and research hubs. Here, in these 30 architectural monuments, you’ll find a unique blend of R&D centers alongside actual tributes to innovation, like the spiraling Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany. From the biotech brilliance Louis Kahn envisioned at the Salk Institute in 1959 to the plant-filled spheres of…

As 2024 nears its end, global R&D-driven industries are navigating a mix of policy shifts, strategic realignments, and accelerating innovation. A proposed policy change could transform how U.S. companies expense their R&D investments, while manufacturing floors are seeing surging AI integration with over a third of companies successfully deploying the technology. In automotive, GM is…

Sandia National Laboratories executed 72 new Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) in fiscal year 2024, the second-highest number in its history. Sandia last reached similar levels in the early 1990s when the World Wide Web was introduced. CRADAs are collaborative agreements that allow federal laboratories and external organizations to jointly develop new technologies by…

In a move signaling a more relaxed regulatory approach to the booming AI sector, UK regulators announced they would not investigate Google’s $2 billion investment in AI startup Anthropic. The move mirrors a similar decision regarding Amazon’s earlier $4 billion stake. This green light comes as Amazon doubles, bringing its total investment in Anthropic to…

Industrial and commercial sectors often measure innovation by market capitalization and R&D spending, but these metrics fail to capture the full picture. Tech companies dominate market headlines with AI product launches and chip releases — and our own ranking of most innovative firms of 2024. In addition, tech firms currently hold the top market cap…

Yes, questions remain about whether AI chipmaker NVIDIA can maintain its momentum in 2025. NVIDIA’s upcoming Blackwell AI chips have encountered thermal problems when integrated into server racks designed to house up to 72 units. Despite these recent technical hurdles, the company remains an innovation juggernaut. 1. Why NVIDIA is the R&D leader of 2024…

The R&D World Index plummeted last week, dragged down by significant losses across most of its constituents, despite a surge in AI chip demand and major R&D investments signaling continued industry shifts. The R&D World Index (RDWI) for the week ending November 15, 2024, closed at 3,708.90 for the 25 companies in the RDWI. The…

For the first time, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has eclipsed Harvard University as the world’s leading institution in scientific research output, according to the 2024 Nature Index, which is based on high-quality research outputs. Several China-based research organizations have jumped in the rankings, with seven of them rounding out the top 10 while…

Tomás Díaz de la Rubia, an accomplished scientist and executive, has been selected as the new senior vice president for research and innovation at the University of Arizona. He is expected to begin his role on November 11th. In this position, Díaz de la Rubia will oversee the university’s vast research portfolio, managing an estimated…

In 2023, Merck & Co. spent more than half of its revenue on R&D. Sure, the figure was inflated thanks to its $10.8 billion acquisition of Prometheus Biosciences, which it budgeted as an R&D cost. But Moderna spent even more as a percentage, $4.85 billion of its $6.85 billion revenue in revenue on R&D while…

In a landscape where R&D teams can spend a sizable chunk of their  time sifting through disparate market data, AI is stepping up to lighten the load. Crunchbase has launched an AI-powered API poised that aims to streamline data gathering and sizing up the competitive landscape — from forecasting funding rounds to charting growth trajectories.…

The R&D World Index (RDWI) for the week ending October 18, 2024, closed at 4.022.95 for the 25 companies in the RDWI. The Index was down -0.66% (or -26.77 basis points). Thirteen RDWI members gained value last week from 0.21% (Pfizer) to 4.63% (Cisco).  Twelve RDWI members lost value the previous week from -0.05% (Sanofi…

The R&D World Index (RDWI) for the week ending October 11, 2024, closed at 4.049.72 for the 25 companies in the RDWI. The Index was up 1.11% (or 44.32 basis points). Fourteen RDWI members gained value last week from 0.06% (Microsoft) to 5.06% (Eli Lilly & Co.). Eleven RDWI members lost value last week from…

The R&D World Index (RDWI) for the week ending October 4, 2024, closed at 4.005.40 for the 25 companies in the RDWI. The Index was up 0.62% (or 24.71 basis points). Eight RDWI members gained value last week from 1.07% (Eli Lilly & Co.) to 6.71% (Alibaba).  Seventeen RDWI members lost value the previous week…