To what extent does national economic success depend on Research and Development (R&D)?

I don' know what your text materials say. their answer might be quite different than anything I can offer. Innovation is the key to success and growth in a company or a nation's economy. Finding ways to innovate often involves research and development - in products, in methods of production, in management techniques, or anything that affects a company's or a nation's economic success. https://hbr.org/1990/03/the-competitive-advantage-of-nations