From experience How Canon and Sony drive product innovation through networking and application-focused R&D

To ensure the ongoing vitality of a company's product offerings, RD clear understanding of current and potential markets must drive RD almost all engineers at both companies eventually move from the labs to production. And rather than viewing this job rotation strategy as a drain on the technological expertise in their labs, both companies rely on strong external networks with key suppliers and university-based researchers as important sources for acquiring new technologies and the competencies needed to support them.