R&D

FT.com on the latest figures on R&D. Europe has fallen behind. This goes against the argument that European has more stability and can cocentrate on long-term goals unlike the short-term orientated nature of US and UK firms.

"But the scoreboard – the world’s most comprehensive R&D ranking – provides little reassurance for European policymakers who are concerned about Europe’s poor long-term R&D performance. European companies spent 5.6 per cent more in 2005-6 than the average of the previous four years. The comparable increase for US companies was 15.4 per cent. "