Research is product development. Successful companies treat it with respect.

> Because in product development, there can be short-sighted industry decisions based on quarterly returns. I've also seen a constant need to justify outcomes based on KPIs etc, and constantly justifying your work, etc.

I have seen this as well. It's extremely common (especially among publicly-owned companies) and frustrating. But it's not ubiquitous. Consider LM's Skunkworks or Apple's quiet development of the iPhone, and compare it to companies that finish a product and then focus on cutting costs / nickel-and-diming their customers.