Large increase in private-sector R&D investment 

The EU 2006  Industrial R&D Investment Scoreboard indicates that between July 2005 and August 2006, private-sector investment increased by an average 5.3%. This represents a major change from the stagnation of the year before and the 2% decrease registered in 2004. "This is good news," said a Commission spokeswoman, adding that it remained to be seen whether this year's positive results were just an exception or the beginning of a positive trend. 

Five of the EU's top R&D investors are German (DaimlerChrysler leading, Siemens the second), two are based in the UK, one in Finland, Sweden and France. Among the top 10 EU companies  stand three car industry companies, three pharmaceuticals and two telecommunications-equipment giants. By comparison, four of the top six world R&D investors are car manufacturers. 

Worldwide, automobiles & parts, IT hardware, and pharmaceuticals & biotechnology remain the top R&D sectors. Over the past year, the highest R&D growth rates are shown in pharmaceutical & biotechnology and in a number of services sector such as software, travel & leisure and media. 

The EU Industrial R&D Investment Scoreboard is published annually by the Commission and provides information on the top 1,000 EU companies and top 1,000 non-EU companies which invest the most in research and development. The EU aims, as part of the Lisbon objectives, to invest 3% of GDP in research by 2010. Two thirds of the 3% should come from the private sector.