Competitive Position Multivariate Analysis of 1000 Top EU Companies in 2013 - Research and Development Perspective

In the Knowledge-Based Economy R&D activity of companies seemed to be crucial. The paper presents the possibility of using zero unitharisation method to identify those EU companies which are characterized by the highest levels of multidimensional R&D position. As a result there was created synthetic Q ratio fro each of 1000 objects (Enterprises). Sorted from highest to lowest value of Q ratio became a ranking of competitive position of companies in EU from R&D activity point of view. The purpose of the article is to present possibility of usage of multivariate analysis to evaluate the competitive position of enterprise. Author presents zero unitharisation method with Q ratio as a tool that solves the problem of low level of utility of one-dimensional analysis. In the research multivariate competitive position evaluation of top 1000 EU companies in 2013 leads to the conclusion that competitive position based on Research and Development activity depends on many factors (not only on R&D expenses). In one dimensional rating proposed by EU in “Scoreboard R&D ranking of world top 1000 companies” first place was for Volkswagen. This position resulted from the highest R&D expenditure in the amount of 11,7 bilion of EUR. In Multidimensional rating Volkswagen is on the sixth place. The difference is due fact that in multidimensional analysis besides R&D expenditures there were taken into account 8 more indicators value of which is linked to R&D expanses