The Department of Trade & Industry has found a £2 bn increment in the UK companies' research and development (R&D) investment in the year 2005/2006. Two thirds of this substantial increase is due to companies in sectors such as banks, insurance, and media. The global top 1250 companies investing in R&D are affected by the organizations based in major economies including US, Japan, Germany, and the UK, which are active in the major R&D sectors. Aerospace R&D has increased by 12% and is the fastest growing sector, while software has increased by 13% and has the highest profitability. The proportion of the UK companies with R&D above £ 2.9 m and with high R&D intensity is increasing and is significantly above the remaining of the European Union (EU).