A report on research and development in technology companies released by Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP of New York indicates that R&D has made a transition to support immediate efforts in the integration of technology planning and business strategy. The quarterly study compiled the opinions of 433 industry executives from both large publicly held and small privately held companies.

Seventy-six percent of executives said that their companies' business strategy would influence this year's R&D; that number falls to 56 percent for a three-year period. Fifty-three percent said they have a team of experts dedicated to technology intelligence, the majority of which are investigating strategic alliances, the acquisition of technologies developed externally, and partnering with important customers.