R038;D spending

Toyota spent the most on research and development Ramp;D of any company in the world in 2008,according to the European Commissions latest tally. The Japanese carmaker increased its annual Ramp;D spending by 7.6 per cent to euro7.6 billion 10.6 billion,knocking Microsoft off the top spot. Three of the five biggest spenders are carmakers,but pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies also pour money into Ramp;D. Switzerlands Roche now ranks fourth,having increased spending by 50 per cent in the past three years. Americas Johnson amp; Johnson and Sanofi-Aventis,a French health-care company,each spent more than euro4.5 billion last year. Worldwide Ramp;D investment increased by 6.9 per cent in 2008,having grown by 9 per cent in 2007.