COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 54171

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

36companies1914–1998founding years32still active4no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedICF Kaiser International, Inc.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedUnited Technologies Corporation
1934
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedSnecma Group
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
FoundedAntonov Design Bureau
1946
FoundedEG & G IncorporatedFoundedMeggitt PLC
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedCompuDyne Corporation
1952
FoundedBanner Aerospace, Inc.
1956
FoundedRoy F. Weston, Inc.
1957
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedSpar Aerospace Limited
1968
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
FoundedSimula, Inc.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedSpacehab, Inc.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedCephalon, Inc.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
FoundedMedImmune, Inc.
1988
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
FoundedRaytheon Aircraft Holdings Inc.
1994
FoundedSeminis, Inc.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
FoundedCovance Inc.
1996
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
FoundedDelphi Automotive Systems Corporation
1998
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

ICF Kaiser International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1914
ICF Kaiser International, Inc.
ICF Kaiser International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1914
ICF Kaiser International, Inc.
United Technologies Corporation →
Active · founded 1934
United Technologies Corporation (UTC) is one of the largest conglomerates in the United States and a major military…
United Technologies Corporation →
Active · founded 1934
United Technologies Corporation (UTC) is one of the largest conglomerates in the United States and a major military…
Snecma Group →
Active · founded 1945 · France
Snecma Group is considered the world's oldest manufacturer of aircraft engines.
Snecma Group →
Active · founded 1945 · France
Snecma Group is considered the world's oldest manufacturer of aircraft engines.
Antonov Design Bureau →
Active · founded 1946 · Ukraine
Ukraine-based Antonov Design Bureau, a scientific and technical complex named after Oleg Konstantinovich (O.K.)…
Antonov Design Bureau →
Active · founded 1946 · Ukraine
Ukraine-based Antonov Design Bureau, a scientific and technical complex named after Oleg Konstantinovich (O.K.)…
EG & G Incorporated →
Active · founded 1947
EG & G Incorporated is a diversified technology company that develops and provides products for public and private…
EG & G Incorporated →
Active · founded 1947
EG & G Incorporated is a diversified technology company that develops and provides products for public and private…
Meggitt PLC →
Active · founded 1947 · United Kingdom
From obscure origins, Meggitt PLC has grown into a global aerospace supplier.
Meggitt PLC →
Active · founded 1947 · United Kingdom
From obscure origins, Meggitt PLC has grown into a global aerospace supplier.
CompuDyne Corporation →
Active · founded 1952
CompuDyne Corporation is the leading U.S.
CompuDyne Corporation →
Active · founded 1952
CompuDyne Corporation is the leading U.S.
Banner Aerospace, Inc. →
Active · founded 1956
Banner Aerospace, Inc.
Banner Aerospace, Inc. →
Active · founded 1956
Banner Aerospace, Inc.
Roy F. Weston, Inc. →
Active · founded 1957
Roy F.
Roy F. Weston, Inc. →
Active · founded 1957
Roy F.
Spar Aerospace Limited →
Defunct · founded 1968 · Canada
Spar Aerospace Limited is perhaps better known for what it once was than what it is.
Spar Aerospace Limited →
Defunct · founded 1968 · Canada
Spar Aerospace Limited is perhaps better known for what it once was than what it is.
Simula, Inc. →
Active · founded 1975
Simula, Inc.
Simula, Inc. →
Active · founded 1975
Simula, Inc.
Spacehab, Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
Spacehab, Inc.
Spacehab, Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
Spacehab, Inc.
Cephalon, Inc. →
Active · founded 1987
Cephalon, Inc.
Cephalon, Inc. →
Active · founded 1987
Cephalon, Inc.
MedImmune, Inc. →
Active · founded 1988
MedImmune, Inc.
MedImmune, Inc. →
Active · founded 1988
MedImmune, Inc.
Raytheon Aircraft Holdings Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1994
Raytheon Aircraft Holdings Inc.
Raytheon Aircraft Holdings Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1994
Raytheon Aircraft Holdings Inc.
Seminis, Inc. →
Active · founded 1995
Seminis, Inc.
Seminis, Inc. →
Active · founded 1995
Seminis, Inc.
Covance Inc. →
Active · founded 1996
Covance Inc.
Covance Inc. →
Active · founded 1996
Covance Inc.
Delphi Automotive Systems Corporation →
Active · founded 1998
Delphi Automotive Systems Corporation is the world's largest and most diversified manufacturer of automobile components.
Delphi Automotive Systems Corporation →
Active · founded 1998
Delphi Automotive Systems Corporation is the world's largest and most diversified manufacturer of automobile components.
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