This study aims to identify the main characteristics of the activities concentrating on R&D and innovation in the industrial sector of high and medium-high technology, and also the main differences with regard to non technological sectors. In order to do so we use data on 1540 manufacturing companies in Spain in two subgroups according to the National Classification of Economic Activities (CNAE). The data correspond to the values of 44 variables organised into 5 blocks of activity that have to do with R&D and innovation. The study includes an exploratory-descriptive analysis with the aim of providing information, and evidence of the outstanding characteristics of sectors with more technological components compared with other industrial manufacturing sectors. Although the study refers to Spanish companies, a large proportion of the results are easily transferrable to similar socioeconomic environments.