The Research & Development (R&D) industry comprises organizations dedicated to conducting original research and applying discoveries to develop new products, processes, technologies, or knowledge.
This includes:
- Corporate R&D laboratories
- Independent research institutes
- Contract Research Organizations (CROs)
- University and academic research centers
- Think tanks and development organizations
Unlike R&D departments embedded within other industries (such as healthcare, pharmaceuticals, or technology), the standalone R&D industry primarily produces research services, intellectual property, patents, prototypes, scientific discoveries, and innovation outputs rather than mass-market products.
The industry broadly aligns with Scientific Research and Development Services (NAICS 5417) and plays a critical role in advancing technology, medicine, manufacturing, defense, energy, and public policy.
Quick Industry Match Guide
| Industry Tier | Company Types | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1: Prime R&D Providers & Brands | Corporate R&D labs, major research institutes | IBM Research, Max Planck Institutes, Google X |
| Tier 1-2: Major Systems Integrators | Contract research organizations, applied research institutes | IQVIA, Fraunhofer Institutes, Battelle |
| Tier 2-3: Component & Specialized Suppliers | Lab equipment suppliers, research software providers, testing services | Thermo Fisher Scientific, MATLAB, Charles River Laboratories |
| Tier 3: Raw Materials & Feedstock | Suppliers of chemicals, materials, biological samples, and research data | Sigma-Aldrich, Corning, AWS, ATCC |
R&D Supply Chain Stages
Quick View Table
| Supply Chain Stage | Tier 3: Raw Materials & Feedstock | Tier 2-3: Component & Specialized Suppliers | Tier 1-2: Major Systems Integrators | Tier 1: Prime R&D Providers & Brands |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Description & Key Activities | Supplying chemicals, materials, biological samples, datasets, and computing resources used in research. Disruptions can delay research programs and experiments. | Providing equipment, software, analytical services, and specialized testing capabilities to support research execution. | Performing applied research, contract studies, clinical trials, and technology development programs that translate scientific concepts into practical applications. | Conducting advanced scientific research, innovation programs, and technology development that generate patents, prototypes, publications, and new knowledge. |
| Expanded Company Types | Laboratory chemical suppliers, biological sample providers, research material producers, cloud/data providers | Laboratory equipment manufacturers, research software developers, testing providers, analytical service firms | Contract Research Organizations, applied research institutes, engineering R&D firms, clinical trial operators | Corporate innovation centers, independent research institutes, federally funded R&D centers, emerging research-focused startups |
| Examples | Sigma-Aldrich (research chemicals), Corning (laboratory materials), AWS (cloud computing), ATCC (cell lines) | Thermo Fisher Scientific (lab instruments), MATLAB (simulation software), Charles River Laboratories (preclinical testing), Agilent (analytical systems) | IQVIA (clinical trials), Fraunhofer Institutes (applied engineering), Battelle (technology commercialization), Covance (contract research) | IBM Research, Google X, Max Planck Institutes, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Moderna R&D |
R&D Sub-Sectors
1. Corporate R&D Labs
Research organizations operating within or alongside corporations to develop future products, technologies, and intellectual property.
| Company Category | Expanded Examples & Roles |
|---|---|
| Technology R&D Labs | Google X (advanced innovation projects); Microsoft Research (AI and computing research) |
| Industrial R&D Centers | Toyota Research Institute (mobility and robotics); GE Global Research (engineering innovation) |
| Consumer Product R&D | Procter & Gamble (consumer product innovation); Unilever (personal care R&D) |
Select if your company:
- Operates a dedicated corporate research laboratory
- Conducts innovation programs for future products or technologies
- Focuses on patent generation and advanced product development
2. Independent Research Institutes
Organizations dedicated to conducting fundamental or applied research independently of commercial production activities.
| Company Category | Expanded Examples & Roles |
|---|---|
| Basic Science Institutes | Max Planck Institutes (physics, biology); CNRS (scientific research) |
| Applied Research Institutes | Fraunhofer Institutes (engineering and industrial innovation); TNO (applied science research) |
| National Laboratories | Los Alamos National Laboratory (defense and energy research); CERN (particle physics) |
Select if your company:
- Conducts independent scientific research
- Operates as a non-profit or government-funded research organization
- Focuses on fundamental scientific discovery
3. Contract Research Organizations (CROs)
Organizations that perform outsourced research, testing, validation, and development services on behalf of clients.
| Company Category | Expanded Examples & Roles |
|---|---|
| Pharma & Biotech CROs | IQVIA (clinical research); Charles River Laboratories (preclinical studies) |
| Engineering R&D Services | Ricardo (automotive engineering research); Exponent (failure analysis and testing) |
| Testing & Validation Providers | SGS (testing services); Intertek (product certification and validation) |
Select if your company:
- Conducts research projects for external clients
- Manages clinical trials, testing, or validation programs
- Performs outsourced engineering or product research
4. University & Academic Research Labs
Research entities attached to universities and academic institutions that generate scientific publications, patents, and technological innovation.
| Company Category | Expanded Examples & Roles |
|---|---|
| University Research Labs | MIT (engineering and AI); Stanford University (biotechnology and computer science) |
| Technology Transfer Offices | Oxford University Innovation (licensing and commercialization); UC Berkeley innovation programs |
| Collaborative Research Centers | Harvard Wyss Institute (bioengineering); Cambridge Cavendish Laboratory (physics research) |
Select if your company:
- Operates university-based research facilities
- Manages academic-industry collaboration projects
- Commercializes university research outcomes
5. Think Tanks & Development Centers
Organizations focused on policy, economic, social, defense, and strategic research.
| Company Category | Expanded Examples & Roles |
|---|---|
| Policy Research Think Tanks | RAND Corporation (policy and defense analysis); Brookings Institution (economic research) |
| Economic & Social Research Centers | Urban Institute (public policy research); CSIS (security and international studies) |
| Industry-Focused Development Centers | Battelle (industry development programs); ITRI (industrial technology research) |
Select if your company:
- Produces policy or strategic research
- Conducts economic, defense, or social science studies
- Operates as a think tank or development center
Indirect Connections to R&D
Organizations not directly conducting research may still be affected by disruptions within the R&D ecosystem.
| Indirect Connection Type | Description | Examples | Recommended Additional Industry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material Suppliers | Provide chemicals, reagents, biological samples, and research materials | Laboratory-grade chemicals | Industrial Chemicals |
| Equipment Providers | Supply instruments, testing devices, and laboratory tools | Microscopes and analytical instruments | General Manufacturing |
| Technology Providers | Supply software, simulation tools, cloud computing, and AI systems | Cloud platforms for modeling and simulations | High Tech / Technology |
| Funding & Grant Providers | Finance research projects and innovation programs | Government grants and venture funding | Insurance & Finance |
| Logistics Providers | Handle movement of samples, reagents, and research materials | Cold-chain transport for biologics | Freight & Logistics |
| Data Providers | Supply datasets used in scientific research | Genomic and AI training datasets | Data Services |
Additional Industries to Select Alongside R&D
| Related Industry | Why You Might Select It | Indirect Connection Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Chemicals | Laboratory chemicals and research reagents | Shortages of specialty research chemicals |
| High Tech | Research software, AI, analytics, and compute resources | Cloud outages impacting simulations |
| General Manufacturing | Laboratory instruments and equipment | Equipment failures delaying research |
| Freight & Logistics | Transportation of samples and materials | Delays in biologic sample shipments |
| Insurance & Finance | Grants, funding, venture capital, and government programs | Research funding reductions |
| Data Services | Research datasets and analytics | Restricted access to critical datasets |
| Power & Energy | Electricity for laboratories and computing facilities | Power interruptions affecting experiments |
Do NOT Select Research & Development If Your Company
| Situation | Select This Industry Instead |
|---|---|
| Manufactures and sells products based on R&D outcomes | Manufacturing, Consumer Goods, Healthcare, High Tech (as applicable) |
| Produces general laboratory equipment | General Manufacturing |
| Provides non-research software services | Technology, SaaS |
| Supplies industrial materials without research focus | Industrial Chemicals or Natural Resources & Mining |
| Performs consulting without substantive research activities | Professional Services |
| Provides financing unrelated to research programs | Insurance & Finance |
Why Select Research & Development
Selecting Research & Development (R&D) ensures your organization receives EventWatch bulletins about:
- Laboratory chemical and material shortages
- Research equipment and software supply disruptions
- Changes in government grants, innovation funding, and research incentives
- Regulatory developments affecting clinical trials, testing programs, and scientific approvals
- Intellectual property developments, patent filings, and licensing activity
- Logistics challenges involving samples, biologics, and research materials
- Breakthroughs and delays in key innovation areas such as AI, biotechnology, advanced materials, energy, and aerospace
- University-industry collaboration initiatives and technology commercialization efforts
These alerts help organizations anticipate and respond to events that may affect research productivity, innovation pipelines, commercialization strategies, funding availability, intellectual property generation, and long-term competitive advantage.
Was this article helpful?
That’s Great!
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry! We couldn't be helpful
Thank you for your feedback
Feedback sent
We appreciate your effort and will try to fix the article