The New World Order: Innovation

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As research and development programs become more global, a geographic footprint of innovation is changing dramatically.

An overwhelming 94 percent of the world’s largest innovators now conduct elements of their R&D programs abroad, according to the 2015 Global Innovation 1000 study, our [PwC's Strategy&] annual analysis of corporate R&D spending.

Where are innovation dollars going?  To countries in which their sales and manufacturing are growing fastest, and where they can access the right technical talent.  Markets like China and India are booming (no surprises there).

Bottom line:  Firms that favor a more global R&D footprint outperform their less globalized competitors on a variety of financial measures.

Read more:  Innovation's New World Order