Kevin Turner in his keynote talked about Microsoft’s R&D investment and how that correlates to their level of innovation. In an era when Google is equivalent to IBM in market cap Microsoft still leads in the application of cash to R&D. Now, I’ve read studies that question how closely R&D should be looked at relative to the marketable, revenue-producing product that are produced. Regardless, Kevin said that the Microsoft R&D budget is ranked number 1 at $6.2B. And, last year, Microsoft secured over 3000 patents. I’m sure that IBM produces more. I’d even suspect that TI produces more than that. Perhaps Microsoft isn’t the most efficient at deploying its R&D capital, but they are committed to being in the game and they are putting their money where their mouth is. Gotta like that.
Another point, as a partner, why wouldn’t I want to be associated with an organization that is investing like that. Doesn’t that only benefit me!?!
