Bigger, Better, Faster, More: Research and Development in the Electronics & Automation Industry

Research and development (R&D) is a broad subject with many different interpretations, so any article on the discipline is subject to a critique.

For most companies in the electronic connector industry, R&D means almost any exploratory engineering activity not directly associated with commercial product. It encompasses enabling technologies that improve, enhance, and occasionally create breakthroughs in new product development. But for the most part, connector research is tied into OEM product needs, since connectors are a component part of evolving end-product developments. For the electronics industry at large, it may be helpful to look at the big picture, represented in the chart below: