Scientific and technical intelligence: the key to R&D

• Published in: The Journal of business strategy Vol. 14; no. 3; pp. 10 - 12
• Main Author: Herring, J P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Emerald Group Publishing, Ltd 01-05-1993; Emerald; Emerald Group Publishing Limited
• Subjects: Competitive intelligence; Economic Competition - trends; Electronics industry; Forecasting; Government; Health administration; Health care industry; Industrial research; Industry - economics; Management; Private Sector; Product development; Product Line Management - economics; R&D; Research & development; Research Support as Topic; Science - economics; Science and technology policy; Strategic planning; Technology - trends; Technology transfer; United States; United States; United States > US
• ISSN: 0275-6668; 2052-1197
• DOI: 10.1108/eb039552

American companies should suppport research and development (R&D) programs with scientific and technical (S&T) intelligence abilities to gain information about new product technologies. Baxter International Inc and Motorola Inc are two companies that have used S&T intelligence with positive results. Baxter International set up its Corporate Technology Sourcing department in the 1980s to monitor and evaluate technological developments around the world. The program enabled Baxter to develop some of these technologies into new products, bringing in $10 million to $15 million for the company. On the other hand, Motorola Inc's intelligence department keeps track of changes in Japan's competitive strategies to prevent Japan from having additional competitive advantage. Aside from these, S&T intelligence enables R&D managers to determine other sources of technology to facilitate product development efforts.