COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 8731

Engineering Laboratories & Computer Hardware Research and Development

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

34companies1907–1995founding years34still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedAmerican CyanamidFoundedAmerican Cyanamid
1907
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
FoundedThe Clorox Company
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedDeKalb Genetics Corporation
1917
FoundedQuantum Chemical Corporation
1924
FoundedBattelle Memorial Institute, Inc.
1925
FoundedHarris Corporation
1926
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
FoundedBBN Corp.
1953
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
FoundedRoche Bioscience
1957
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedScience Applications International Corporation
1969
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
FoundedNichols Research Corporation
1976
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
FoundedGenetics Institute, Inc.
1980
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedLife Technologies, Inc.
1983
FoundedCorrpro Companies, Inc.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedApplied Bioscience International, Inc.
1986
FoundedOak Technology, Inc.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
TechnologyLinux and open source begin to challenge proprietary software.
FoundedThermo Fibertek, Inc.
1992
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
FoundedPharmacia & Upjohn Inc.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
1998
TechnologyUS v. Microsoft antitrust trial reshapes software.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
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

American Cyanamid →
Active · founded 1907
When William Bell became president of American Cyanamid in 1922, he is reported to have said "even a fool could see…
American Cyanamid →
Active · founded 1907
When William Bell became president of American Cyanamid in 1922, he is reported to have said "even a fool could see…
The Clorox Company →
Active · founded 1913
Although best known for the household bleach that bears the firm's name, The Clorox Company is a diversified…
The Clorox Company →
Active · founded 1913
Although best known for the household bleach that bears the firm's name, The Clorox Company is a diversified…
DeKalb Genetics Corporation →
Active · founded 1917
DeKalb Genetics Corporation is one of the largest and most successful international research, production, and marketing…
DeKalb Genetics Corporation →
Active · founded 1917
DeKalb Genetics Corporation is one of the largest and most successful international research, production, and marketing…
Quantum Chemical Corporation →
Active · founded 1924
Quantum Chemical Corporation (prior to 1988, the National Distillers and Chemical Corporation) is one of the largest…
Quantum Chemical Corporation →
Active · founded 1924
Quantum Chemical Corporation (prior to 1988, the National Distillers and Chemical Corporation) is one of the largest…
Battelle Memorial Institute, Inc. →
Active · founded 1925
Battelle Memorial Institute, Inc.
Battelle Memorial Institute, Inc. →
Active · founded 1925
Battelle Memorial Institute, Inc.
Harris Corporation →
Active · founded 1926
The origin of the Harris Corporation, a leading American electronics company, is actually to be found in the printing…
Harris Corporation →
Active · founded 1926
The origin of the Harris Corporation, a leading American electronics company, is actually to be found in the printing…
BBN Corp. →
Active · founded 1953
BBN Corp.
BBN Corp. →
Active · founded 1953
BBN Corp.
Roche Bioscience →
Active · founded 1957
Roche Bioscience was formed in 1995 following the acquisition of Syntex Corp.
Roche Bioscience →
Active · founded 1957
Roche Bioscience was formed in 1995 following the acquisition of Syntex Corp.
Science Applications International Corporation →
Active · founded 1969
Science Applications International Corporation is a leading U.S.
Science Applications International Corporation →
Active · founded 1969
Science Applications International Corporation is a leading U.S.
Nichols Research Corporation →
Active · founded 1976
Nichols Research Corporation has diversified beyond its core business of providing technology services to the defense…
Nichols Research Corporation →
Active · founded 1976
Nichols Research Corporation has diversified beyond its core business of providing technology services to the defense…
Genetics Institute, Inc. →
Active · founded 1980
Genetics Institute, Inc., (GI) is a biotechnology firm engaged in the research, development, and commercialization of…
Genetics Institute, Inc. →
Active · founded 1980
Genetics Institute, Inc., (GI) is a biotechnology firm engaged in the research, development, and commercialization of…
Life Technologies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
Life Technologies, Inc.
Life Technologies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
Life Technologies, Inc.
Corrpro Companies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
Corrpro Companies, Inc.
Corrpro Companies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
Corrpro Companies, Inc.
Applied Bioscience International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Applied Bioscience International, Inc.
Applied Bioscience International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Applied Bioscience International, Inc.
Oak Technology, Inc. →
Active · founded 1987
Born in Xian, China, at the height of World War II, Oak Technology, Inc.
Oak Technology, Inc. →
Active · founded 1987
Born in Xian, China, at the height of World War II, Oak Technology, Inc.
Thermo Fibertek, Inc. →
Active · founded 1992
Thermo Fibertek, Inc.
Thermo Fibertek, Inc. →
Active · founded 1992
Thermo Fibertek, Inc.
Pharmacia & Upjohn Inc. →
Active · founded 1995
An international manufacturer of pharmaceuticals formed through the 1995 merger of the Pharmacia A.B.
Pharmacia & Upjohn Inc. →
Active · founded 1995
An international manufacturer of pharmaceuticals formed through the 1995 merger of the Pharmacia A.B.
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