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5. User orientation in corporate innovation activity and the production of innovative products 2008–2010

A total of 80 per cent of the enterprises with innovation activity reported having incorporated user information or users in their innovation activity during the survey period. The majority of them estimated that the procedure was significantly or moderately important.

Seven out of ten had utilised information received from customer feedback systems and half of those which practised innovation activity reported that they had made use of information obtained from market surveys, consumer panels or similar means. Good one-third of enterprises had used more scientific methods in ascertaining user needs.

One-third of the enterprises practising innovation activity had done so together with users by involving them direct in the search for ideas, development and in, for example, production of contents. Approximately one-half of the enterprises reported output (including possible follow-up development and product launch on the market) based on products modified by customers, and approximately 30 per cent reported output based on products developed by customers.

Naturally, the enterprises that reported product innovations reported inclusion of user orientation much more often than enterprises, which innovated without product novelties between 2008 and 2010. The inclusion of user orientation was most common among enterprises that reported having launched new products on the market during the examined period.

Incorporation of user information and users in to innovation activity and the production of innovative products 2008-2010, share of enterprises with product innovations new to their markets during 2008–2010

The exploitation of user information and joint development were slightly more common among service enterprises than manufacturing enterprises. By contrast, the production of products adapted by users or based on products developed by users was more common in manufacturing.

Like other types of innovation activity, the exploitation of user information and joint development also increase as the enterprise size grows. However, the integration of products adapted and developed by users into production occurs with almost the same frequency among small and large enterprises.

Source: Innovation 2010, Statistics Finland

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

Director in charge: Leena Storgårds

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Updated 7.6.2012