Companies that allocate a significant portion of their turnover to research and development activities.
R&D-intensive enterprises are companies that commit a substantial share of their revenue to fundamental research, applied research, and experimental development (as defined in the Frascati Manual, the OECD standard for measuring scientific and technical activities). These investments involve both financial resources and highly qualified human capital, such as researchers, technologists, and specialized personnel.
Their organizational structure is often geared toward internal innovation processes, featuring dedicated laboratories, scientific partnerships, and advanced mechanisms for intellectual property management. Their classification is not determined by the specific sector they belong to, but rather by the intensity and continuity of their R&D investments, which serve as the primary engine for growth, differentiation, and market positioning.