How do you compete against this?

[C(-)ris]

R&D doesn't have to be that expensive forever. Once you figure everything out then you can reduce R&D to improvements instead of core processes. That could be 90% less people. If they can get there, they are going to turn a massive profit. They seem to have mastered having robots replace the factory workers. If they can harness AI to replace the R&D they will be printing money.