Microsoft's expenditure on research and development 2002-2024

Microsoft’s research and development expenditure amounted to around 29 billion U.S. dollars in its 2024 fiscal year, a record high. Microsoft ranks second among software and computer service companies worldwide in terms of R&D spend, behind only Google’s parent company Alphabet.

Microsoft Corporation

One of the most successful tech companies worldwide, Microsoft, together with its most famous product, the Windows operating system, has long been a household name. The company’s fiscal year 2021 not only witnessed a record spending for R&D, but also a record high in terms of annual sales – Microsoft brought in 168.08 billion U.S. dollars in net sales that year, proving that their businesses are stronger than ever, after years of continued success.

Microsoft's Diverse businesses

Some of Microsoft’s major business ventures include the above-mentioned Windows operating system, software packages such as Microsoft Office, various lines of consumer electronics, as well as cloud computing offerings. Microsoft’s productivity and business processes segment, which include products such as Office 365 and LinkedIn, brought in around 53.9 billion U.S. dollars in the 2021 fiscal year.