Chapter 6: Science & Engineering Indicators 93

The United States

R& D performance in U.S. manufacturing industries followed a pattern of rapid growth during the 1970s, rising an average of 11 percent per year between 1973 and 1980 (2.7 percent per year in 1985 constant prices). This growth pattern accelerated during the early eighties, before slowing down considerably during the latter part of the decade. The eight industries account for over 80 percent of total industrial R& D performed in the United States; they therefore drive R& D trends in the U.S. industrial sector.

The U.S. aircraft and communications equipment industries have consistently been the largest performers of R& D. (See figure 6-16 and appendix table 6-8.) Comparing R& D performance in 1973 and 1990, shows some shifting in R& D emphasis among the top five industry performers. Although the aircraft and communications equipment industries retain their top positions as the leading R& D performers in the United States, R& D growth in the motor vehicle and electrical machinery industries did not keep pace with that in the computer and office equipment industry during the period examined. Consequently, by 1990, the computer and office equipment industry became the third leading R& D performer in the United States. (See figure 6-16.)

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