Table I: Nations and continents originating breakthrough R&D compared to those first commercializing products from this research and compared to those leading today’s market for these products.

Technology or Product

/ R&D Leader / First Product / Current Leader
Advanced Composite Materials / US / US / Japan/US
Anti-Skid Brakes for Autos / Europe / Europe / Japan/Europe
Automatic Focus Cameras / US / US / Japan
Automobiles / Europe / Europe / Japan
Biotechnology / US / US / US
Commercial Jet Aircraft / Europe / US / US
Communications electronics / US/Europe / US / US
Compact Disk Players / Europe / Europe / Japan
Computer Aided Design / US / US / US
Consumer Electronics / US / US / Japan
Copiers / US / US / Japan/US
Desk Top Computers / US / US / Japan/US
Digital Watches / Europe / US / Japan
DRAM Memory / US / US / Japan
Drug and Pharmaceuticals / US / US / US
Electronic Fuel Injection / US / US / Europe/Japan
Facsimile Machines / US/Europe / US / Japan
Fiber Optics / US / US / US
Flat Panel displays / US / US / Japan
Fuzzy Logic / US / Japan / Japan
Hand-Held Calculators / US / US / Japan
High Temperature Superconductors / Europe/US / Japan/US / ?
Integrated Circuit Test Equipment / US / US / Japan
Jet Engines / Europe / Europe / US
Lithography Steppers / US / US / Japan
Medical Imaging Technology / Europe / US / US
Microprocessors / US / US / US
Military Radars / Europe / Europe / US
Notebook and Desk Top Computers / US / US / US/Japan
Numerical Control Machine Tools / US / US / Japan
Rocket Propulsion Technology / Europe / Europe / US
Robotics / US / US / Japan
Semiconducting Lasers / US / US / Japan
Software / US / US / US
Super computers / US / US / US
Television Sets / US / US / Japan
Video Games / US / US / Japan
VCRs / US / US / Japan