Research & development (R&D) is often referred to as the lifeblood of a company. And for good reason. Without enough ideas circulating through the system, even powerful market leaders can wither up and die. By contrast, forward-looking organizations with a culture of innovation typically find ways to elevate their products, engage customers, and generate market-beating returns for shareholders.
I classify R&D breakthroughs by their potential to shake the ground around them. A talented (and well-funded) research bench can not only propel emerging startups, but also keep mature companies a step ahead of the crowd.
This post originally appeared at Investing Daily.