The Changing Role of R&D

OVERVIEW: Powerful trends affect product development and the creation of business value today. “Main-Street” companies must improve their profits and “all” companies face aggressive revenue targets. For everyone this means finding new ways to fill the gap between current and projected revenue goals. A company increases its market capitalization by filling this gap, a burden resting predominantly on R&D. R&D has traditionally been focused internally on product development and, to some degree, on mergers and acquisitions. R&D's role must now expand and take on a greater scope to meet the financial goals of the company.