Microsoft, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson are the three representatives from the US who made it to the top list. However, the overall trend is US is far less positive - there has been a 5.6% reduction in investment in R&D in the US in 2009.
The top 50 companies on the scoreboard includes 16 EU companies, 19 US firms and 12 from Japan. 30 of the top 50 cut R&D investment in 2009.
European companies reduced their investment in R&D activites by 2.6% in 2009 lagging behind the global average of 1.9%.
Asian economies have continued to invest heavily in Research and Development with growth recorded in many countries. Investment in India increased by 27.3% while China saw a growth of 40%.
Corporate Japan has continued to invest in research and development despite significant fall in profits. South Korea and Taiwan have also reported positive growth.
Within Europe, Germany recorded a 3.2% reduction while French corporate investment in R&D dropped by 4.5%. On the other hand, Switzerland's grew by 2.5% along with Spain which recorded a 15.4% growth despite drop is sales of 6.4%.
The alternative energy sector continues to see significant investments in research & development - 15 companies have made it on the scoreboard, which made investments of more than €500 million in R&D in 2009, an increase of 28.7%.
"The fact that major EU firms have largely maintained their R&D investment shows that they recognise R&D as key to emerging stronger from the crisis." Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science said.
"But the wide gap with the top US companies in areas like software and biotechnology and the continuing rapid rise of Asian-based companies highlight the innovation emergency Europe is facing.," she added.
"We urgently need heads of state and government at the December European Council to back the Innovation Union proposals that Antonio Tajani and I announced on 6 October."
