For 47% of the nearly 400 food and beverage processors who responded to the annual Food Processing R&D survey, the most important goal for their R&D efforts this year is new product development. Existing product improvement is most important for 17%, and for 14%, cost control is the top priority. Asked to rank concerns as […]

In 2010, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) members spending on R&D grew 6.5% to $49.4 billion. R&D spending by the total biopharmaceutical industry grew an estimated 2.3% to $67.4 billion. PhRMA members’ domestic R&D spending rose 5.7% to $37,371.0 million, while foreign spending increased 8.7% to $12,047.4 million. As a percentage of sales, […]

Although mining companies’ profits in 2010 reached an all-time high of more than $50 billion, and the companies are investing to increase their supplies of major raw materials, it probably will not be enough to accommodate strong demand or curb rising commodity prices. Mining companies are increasing capital investment but face numerous obstacles in developing […]

Western oil companies are divesting their refineries after a decades-long slump that has led to prolonged overcapacity and, thus, weak margins. Refining margins, which reached a high of $4.50 a barrel, are now 10% of that and declining, and are expected to remain weak in the future. Weak margins, however, are not discouraging state-owned and […]

An agreement, or “continuing resolution,” for the fiscal 2011 budget was reached by President Obama and leaders of the Democratic Senate and Republican House of Representatives. The budget cuts funding for science agencies across the board, but much less so than the initial budget approved by the House of Representatives in February would have. Science […]