R&D companies based on their age, size and type of field, are they solvent companies?

Abstract

Advances through Research and Development (R&D) companies have marked a meaningful change worldwide. The products developed by these companies are known. However, little is written about how they work, mainly whether they are solvent companies, whether they generate a profit from their activity, how long the life of these companies is, or whether they tend to go bankrupt. In addition, the pandemic caused by Covid-19 has had a significant impact on all types of companies, and it is worth asking whether the effect on R&D companies has been negative or positive. Taking all of this into account, the main objective of this study is to analyze the profitability, liquidity, and solvency situation of Spanish R&D companies considering their size, age and type of field. The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on these companies will be analyzed too. In total, 135 Spanish companies have been studied, and whether they are R&D companies in natural and technical sciences or social sciences and Humanities has been considered. The Altman Z-score indicator has been used after descriptive analysis of the companies by ratios. This methodology has been used to assess whether the health crisis has compromised the solvency of these companies. The analysis of the study has shown that they are companies of great relevance at the national economic level, which have a favourable liquidity and solvency situation. In case of profitability of these companies the results could not be generalized. Also, results have shown that Covid19 had a significant impact on Spanish R&D companies and their financial and economic situation. This study is an essential contribution to the academic literature, public administration, and management of R&D companies.