From 2015 to 2016 North America increased R&D spending by 8% rising close to $300 Billion as Europe, Japan and the Rest of the World including Australia fell by 9%, 8% and 3% respectively and China rose by 19%. Many of 2016’s Most Innovative Companies invested over $8 billion in R&D (research and development) this year as calculated by Strategy & Business.
Apple and Alphabet, formerly known as Google, have maintained first and second in innovation since 2010 increasing R&D spending from $1.3 and $2.8 billion in 2010 to $8.1 and $12.3 billion in 2016.
2016 Top 10 Innovative Companies – Strategy & Business
Company | Geography | 2016 Innovation Rank | 2016 R&D Spending Rank | 2016 R&D Spend ($Bn) |
Apple | United States | 1 | 11 | 8.1 |
Alphabet | United States | 2 | 4 | 12.3 |
3M | United States | 3 | – | 1.8 |
Tesla Motors | United States | 4 | – | 0.7 |
Amazon | United States | 5 | 3 | 12.5 |
Samsung | South Korea | 6 | 2 | 12.7 |
United States | 7 | – | 4.8 | |
Microsoft | United States | 8 | 6 | 12 |
General Electric | United States | 9 | – | 4.2 |
IBM | United States | 10 | – | 5.2 |
* Unfilled Spending Rank signifies company ranked lower than 20th
* R&D spend data is based on most recent full year figures reported prior to July 1st – Strategy&
As displayed by the recorded spending not all Top 10 Innovative Companies of 2016 were ranked in the Top 20 for R&D Spending in 2016, however, each company did perform R&D.
Innovation is supported within the cultures of these leading companies in part by the support of the R&D tax incentive. The research and development tax incentive seeks to foster innovation and growth making R&D possible for SMEs as well as large corporations.
Read about eligibility to find out if you qualify for the R&D Tax Incentive.
If you would like to discuss the R&D Tax Incentive further, please do not hesitate to contact one of Swanson Reed’s offices today.