Industrial research institute's 7th annual R&D leaderboard

An increase in R& D spending by the US industry in the year 2004 was broadly based, with 76 of the top 100 companies boosting their R& D. Most of the companies were in the communications equipment, computer equipment and electronics industry. Companies in the biotech, pharmaceuticals, electronics, computer hardware and software industries spend much more on R& D per employee than the other companies. Meanwhile, the Financial Accounting standards Board (FASB) issued a new directive, requiring companies to expense stock options given to employees. This directive will increase R& D spending in accordance with stock options given to the employees.