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5. Factors hampering innovation activity

Previously, questions on factors hampering innovation activity have only concerned innovation activity related to the development and implementation of products and processes. The results for 2008 to 2010 showed at the time that the most significant challenges were lack of internal finance and skilled employees.

In the most recent survey, factors hampering innovation activity were inquired concerning all possible innovation activity, not just related to products and processes. This time, lack of skilled employees, lack of internal finance as well as high costs of innovation activity also emerged as the main challenges. In addition to uncertainties related to demand, the competition in the market causes concern in innovation activity.

Figure 19. Factors hampering innovation activity by importance in 2014 to 2016, share of those with innovation activity

Disadvantages were felt on the whole more commonly and more significantly in manufacturing than in services. For example, 45 per cent of those with innovation activity felt lack of internal finance was a high or medium high hampering factor, in services this share was one-third of enterprises. One-half of manufacturing enterprises assessed lack of skilled employees an important factor hampering innovation activity, in services, this was felt by 44 per cent of innovators.

Lack of finance and high costs of innovation were a high hampering factor more often for small than big enterprises. In turn, competition appeared in relation as usually a high or medium challenge for enterprises of different sizes, and lack of skilled employees was a real problem for all size categories, particularly for medium-size enterprises of which over one-half assessed it as a high or medium high factor hampering innovation activity.

Source: Innovation 2016, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Mervi Niemi 029 551 3263, Heidi Pirkola 029 551 3246, tiede.teknologia@stat.fi

Director in charge: Sami Saarikivi

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Updated 12.4.2018