Home > Statistics > Innovation > 2006 > Innovation activity more widespread than before among enterprises

Published: 14 February 2008

Innovation activity more widespread than before among enterprises

Between 2004 and 2006, altogether 51 per cent of enterprises had activity connected with product or process innovations. In manufacturing, the share of enterprises with innovation activity was 55 ¹⁾ per cent and in services 47 per cent. The vast majority of the enterprises having engaged in this activity reported that they had made product or process innovations. The data derive from a survey of Statistics Finland concerning innovation activity among enterprises. The survey covered enterprises employing at least 10 persons in manufacturing, inclusive of mining and quarrying, and electricity, gas and water supply, and in certain service industries.

Enterprises now reported activities connected with product or process innovations more frequently than in the previous survey round of 2002-2004, when 43 per cent of enterprises reported that they had engaged in such activities and 39 per cent said they had made product or process innovations.

An innovation is a new or essentially improved good or service launched by an enterprise on the market, or a new or essentially improved process introduced by an enterprise. Besides enterprises having made innovations, also enterprises with projects aimed at innovations that continued from the previous examination period or were terminated during this examination period were counted in the survey as enterprises having practiced innovation activity.

Prevalence of innovation activity connected with products or processes in manufacturing and services 2004-2006, share of enterprises

Among manufacturing industries, innovation activity was most widespread in the 2004-2006 period in the manufacture of chemicals and chemical products, and in the manufacture of computers and telecommunications equipment. Three out of four enterprises in these industries had engaged in innovation activity. Among service industries, innovation activity was most widespread in technical testing and analysis, where 80 per cent of enterprises reported having had innovation activity in 2004-2006. In computer and related activities, the respective share was 74 per cent.

Altogether 58 per cent of the enterprises having had innovation activity connected with the development of product or process innovations had engaged in related co-operation. Their partners in such co-operation were most often equipment or material suppliers, customers, or enterprises belonging to the same group. Almost all of the enterprises had co-operated with domestic partners, while more than half had partners in other European countries, one in five in the United States and one in ten had co-operative partners in China.

Concept of innovation extended to marketing and organisational innovations

The concepts used in the innovation survey previously only covered product or process innovations, but a review of the concept of innovation means that it now also extends to non-technological innovations. Thus this survey round included for the first time questions concerning enterprises’ organisational or marketing innovations in addition to the questions about product or process innovations and related projects and actions.

Altogether 34 per cent of enterprises reported having made organisational innovations between 2004 and 2006; in manufacturing the share was 32 per cent and in services slightly higher at 36 per cent. Approximately 28 per cent of enterprises had made marketing innovations; 27 per cent in manufacturing and 28 per cent in services.

If innovation activity is examined inclusive of product or process innovations and related projects, as well as marketing or organisational innovations, the share of enterprises with innovation activity among the enterprises employing at least 10 persons in the studied industries was 57 per cent in the 2004-2006 period.

1) Corrected on 15 February 2008. Figure was previously 51.

Source: Innovation 2006, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Mervi Niemi (09) 1734 3263, tiede.teknologia@stat.fi

Director in charge: Kaija Hovi

Publication in pdf-format (325.2 kB)

Tables

Tables in databases

Pick the data you need into tables, view the data as graphs, or download the data for your use.

• Database tables and their variables
• Archived tables

Appendix tables

• Table 1. Prevalence of innovation activity by size category of personnel, 2004-2006, share of enterprises (14.2.2008)
• Table 2. Prevalence of innovation activity by industry, 2004-2006, share of enterprises (14.2.2008)
• Table 3. Co-operation in innovation activity by significance of co-operating partner, 2004-2006, share of enterprises with innovation activity (14.2.2008)
• Table 4. Co-operation in innovation activity by location of co-operating partner, 2004-2006, share of enterprises with innovation activity (14.2.2008)
• Table 5. Co-operation in innovation activity by location of co-operating partner and size category of personnel, 2004-2006, share of enterprises with innovation activity (14.2.2008)
• Table 6. Prevalence of marketing and organisational innovations by size category of personnel, 2004-2006, share of enterprises (14.2.2008)
• Table 7. Prevalence of marketing and organisational innovations by industry, 2004-2006, share of enterprises (14.2.2008)

Figures

• Figure 1. Prevalence of innovation activity by size category of personnel, 2004-2006, share of enterprises (14.2.2008)
• Figure 2. Prevalence of innovation activity in manufacturing by industry, 2004-2006, share of enterprises (14.2.2008)
• Figure 3. Prevalence of innovation activity in services by industry, 2004-2006, share of enterprises (14.2.2008)
• Figure 4. Co-operation in innovation activity by size category of personnel, 2004-2006, share of enterprises with innovation activity (14.2.2008)
• Figure 5. Co-operation in innovation activity by type of co-operating partner, 2004-2006, share of enterprises with innovation activity (14.2.2008)
• Figure 6. Co-operation in innovation activity by location of co-operating partner, 2004-2006, share of enterprises with innovation activity (14.2.2008)

---

Updated 14.2.2008