So an R&D firm shouldn't be able to get patents, only someone who does R&D plus manufacturing? I ask that because the startup where I work part-time does R&D f

So an R&D firm shouldn't be able to get patents, only someone who does R&D plus manufacturing? I ask that because the startup where I work part-time does R&D for scientific equipment and we then license the technology to companies that are interested in possible manufacturing. Many companies would rather license a patent, and be the exclusive manufacturer than have to invest in the R&D themselves. And by the way, many (hardware) technologies require a significant amount of time to bring from the conceptual stage to manufacturing stage, especially when you have limited, such as a startup might.