SEOUL, KOREA- Samsung Electronics turns out to have spent the second highest amount of money for research & development (R&D) among global companies. A management consulting company Booz & Company announced the results of its analysis on global companies' R&D spending trend on October 24.Volkswagen came on top with US$11.4 billion, while Samsung Electronics ranked No. 2 with $10.4 billion.

Samsung Electronics moved up by four notches from No. 2 this year from No. 6 last year. Following Samsung Electronics are Roche with $10.2 billion, Intel with $10.1 billion, and Microsoft with $9.8 billion.

Toyota was positioned at No. 6 with $9.8 billion, followed by Novatis with $9.3 billion, and Merck with $8.2 billion.