Research and development, often called R&D, is a phrase that means different things, in different applications.
In the world of Whitehorse Industries, we take it as a phase in a products life that might be considered the products conception. That is, basic science must exist to support the products viability, and if science is lacking, it must be discovered, this is considered the “research phase”.
Further terminology refinements might call it “engineering”, to refine production so that the product can made at a lower cost that will appeal to our customers satisfaction.