US companies performed 18% of their R&D in foreign countries

US companies performed US$395.6 billion in R&D in 2013, 18% ($73.1 billion) of which was performed in other countries, according to the latest data from the National Science Foundation. The closely watched manufacturing sector accounted for the bulk of industry R&D outlays ($272.6 billion/68.9%) led by computer and electronics products ($85.5 billion) and pharmaceuticals and medicines ($62.5 billion). Canada attracted $5.3 billion of US R&D — the largest single amount of any country in North and South America. Globally, that amount was exceeded only by the UK ($8.9 billion), Germany ($8.6 billion), India ($5.9 billion) and China ($5.8 billion). Four industry sectors —software publishers, pharmaceuticals and medicines, semiconductor and other electronic components and automobiles — accounted for 52% of foreign R&D performance by US firms.