A new article reveals that large corporations are investing less in science. From 1980 to 2006, publications by company scientists have declined in a range of industries. The result holds across a range of industries.
Investigators also found that the value attributed to scientific research has dropped, whereas the value attributed to technical knowledge (as measured by patents) has remained stable. Companies appear to be focusing more on developing existing knowledge and commercializing it, rather than on creating new knowledge through basic research.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/11/171127124929.htm
[Abstract]: The decline of science in corporate R&D
Remembering AT&T Bell Labs, IBM Labs, Xerox PARC, HP Labs, TI, etc. In the current political and economic situation, do you think companies in USA have the will and means to reverse this decline?
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Thursday November 30 2017, @04:43AM (3 children)
My first US patent started with the number 5, back around 1992 or 3, I think. I'm pretty sure there are at least twice that many now. So, from the patent act in 1790 until 1990, there were ~5 million patents issued, and in the following 27 years, there were ~5 million MORE patents issued.
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday November 30 2017, @04:49AM (1 child)
And how many of those were bullshit software patents or patents for existing things that just added on a computer or on the internet?
(Score: 2) by chromas on Thursday November 30 2017, @06:22AM
Has anyone invented cyberpatents yet?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday November 30 2017, @07:32PM
Yes, there may be 5 million MORE patents, but of those half are junk like patenting "swipe to lock/unlock". That's no patent, its just IP protectionism games.
USA companies are investing in R&D - OOgle, aceBook .. the WRONG companies, pouring millions into researching how to strengthen themselves as the Data Barons and oppress the masses in the Land of the "Free", and the rest of the world as a bonus.