Engineering, Research & Development Continue to Transform all Industries / Transportation and Logistics Technologies Reshape the Supply Chain
One of the key things driving the global economy forward is investment in engineering, research and development (R&D). These efforts are changing everything, from the way that we connect to everyday devices like automobiles and appliances, to the way in which transportation and industrial systems operate efficiently.
The U.S. continues to lead the world in terms of total investment in research and development, at about $581 billion during 2019. However, it ranks behind many other industrialized nations in terms of R&D as a percent of GDP, at 2.84%. For example, Japan’s annual spending on R&D is estimated at 3.50% of GDP and South Korea’s is 4.35%
Massive research outlays and grants are made by the U.S. federal government. The proposed federal research budget for fiscal 2020 was $134.1 billion (down from $140.6 estimated for the previous year). Substantial federal research dollars are flowing into such areas as advanced batteries, cancer, nanotechnology, robotics, biotechnology, defense and renewable energy. Government research grants feed projects at universities throughout the U.S. and at many types of private corporations. The United States is expected to account for 24.98% of total global R&D in 2019, compared to 20.31% for Europe and 44.24% for Asia.
At the same time that governments are driving research and engineering forward, many private corporations are making their highest R&D investments in history. For example, Apple’s R&D ballooned from about $1 billion in 2009 to $13 billion for 2019. The result is the phenomenal advancements in its iPhones. Drug maker Roche is investing more than $10 billion yearly in new drug research, as are Johnson & Johnson and Merck. One result has been Merck’s extraordinary cancer-fighting drug Keytruda. Amazon and Microsoft are both investing stunning amounts in R&D.
The Transportation, Logistics & Supply Chain Systems Surge Ahead, thanks to Enhanced Research, Development and Engineering.
Transportation is one of the world’s largest industries. Its sectors range from taxis to trucks, airplanes, trains, courier services, ships, barges, warehouses and logistics services. To a growing extent, it now includes the use of robotics and artificial intelligence in terms of self-driving cars and trucks, and eventually may include a significant level of robotic delivery vehicles. Robotics are already providing a high level of automation in ports and warehouses, while artificial intelligence is being applied widely to the supply chain.
Mobile apps are also bringing transportation request and management directly to the smartphone. For example, Uber famously enables individual passengers in many nations around the world to request transportation, tailored to their specific needs, to be delivered rapidly. This business model is spilling over into services for local and long distance trucking. The Uberization of the trucking industry will have profound effects, and is now in early stages, with many well-funded firms launching on-demand freight services, including Uber Freight and Ryder in the U.S. and Manbang (“Full Truck Alliance”) in China. Long-haul trucks that are partly self-driving will eventually revolutionize this segment.
Plunkett Research has recently published two outstanding industry reference tools that will be your guide to evolving R&D, Transportation and Supply Chain sectors:
Plunkett’s Engineering & Research Industry Almanac 2019
Available to Plunkett Research Online subscribers
See more information about the online edition here.
Also available in Almanac Editions.
Publication Date: May, 2019 | Price: $379.99
Printed ISBN: 978-1-62831-493-9
eBook ISBN: 978-1-62831-817-5
See the complete listings of book contents and details here.
Plunkett’s Transportation, Supply Chain & Logistics Industry Almanac 2019
Available to Plunkett Research Online subscribers
See more information about the online edition here.
Also available in Almanac Editions.
Publication Date: March, 2019 | Price: $379.99
Printed ISBN: 978-1-62831-489-2
eBook ISBN: 978-1-62831-813-5
See the complete listings of book contents and details here.
