R&D's Different Look.

• Position: Brief Article - Statistical Data Included

Technology in all sectors has changed how it does R&D, said a survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers (www.barometersurveys.com/pr/te000403.html) Instead of "geeks" working on long-term discovery projects, tech companies now take a shorter-term view, PwC reported.

A good 27% don't do Long-term basic research, including custom software developers and systems integrators. Their goal is to perform to the specifications of others, the report said. The other 73% focus on the commercial aspects of their R&D "though innovation remains a major part"

Also

* More companies - just over 40% - are outsourcing parts of their R&D

* 27% of technology companies with R&D programs have "skunkworks" labs for their scientists Off limits to management the labs Let scientists work after hours on "blue sky projects on...