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Published: 22 March 2012

Innovation survey opens many perspectives to enterprises’ development activity

According to preliminary data, 56 per cent of enterprises employing at least ten persons practised innovation activity in 2008–2010. The vast majority of them also integrated user information or users into their innovation activity in one way or another. These data derive from a survey of Statistics Finland concerning innovation activity among enterprises.

Prevalence of innovation activity in manufacturing and services in 2008–2010, share of enterprises

Just under one-half of the surveyed enterprises reported having practised innovation activity related to products or processes during the examined period. One-third of all enterprises had launched product innovations on the market. A slightly smaller share of 29 per cent had introduced process innovations.

In manufacturing, innovation activity related to products or processes was most widespread in the manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products. In services, the development, launching and introduction of innovative products or processes was most frequent in information technology and computer service activities.

If enterprises having adopted organisational and marketing innovations are also included, the share of enterprises having practised innovation activity in 2008-2010 rises to 56 per cent. The share of enterprises having introduced organisational or marketing innovations was 40 per cent.

In this innovation survey round, Statistics Finland also studied for the first time innovation activity in human health and social work activities, and the importance of user orientation in enterprises' development activity.

Overall, enterprises in human health and social work activities reported innovation activity more often than enterprises in other service activities. The total share of enterprises having engaged in innovation activity was 57 per cent. The share of enterprises having reported organisational innovations was particularly high at 40 per cent.

Users and user information constitute an important resource for enterprises

In the assessment of user orientation, four out of five of those having practised innovation activity reported having integrated user information or users into their innovation activity and output of innovative products. Seven out of ten had utilised information received via customer feedback systems and one-half of those having practised innovation activity reported that they had exploited information obtained with market surveys, consumer panels or similar means. Good one-third of enterprises had used more scientific methods in ascertaining user needs.

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

The vast majority of the enterprises that had integrated users or user information into their innovation activity thought that its importance was high or moderate.

The survey covered enterprises employing at least ten persons in manufacturing (incl. mining and quarrying, electricity, gas and air conditioning supply, and water supply and waste management) and in certain services. This survey round also extended to human health and social work activities. To maintain comparability of the survey results between different years, results concerning these activities are reported separately.

The survey results will be published in their entirety in June.

Source: Innovation 2010, Statistics Finland

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

Director in charge: Leena Storgårds

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Appendix tables

• Appendix table 1. Prevalence of innovation activity by size category of personnel, 2008 - 2010, share of enterprises (22.3.2012)
• Appendix table 2a. Prevalence of innovation activity by industry, 2008 - 2010, share of enterprises (22.3.2012)
• Appendix table 2b. Prevalence of innovation activity in human health and social work activities by industry, 2008 - 2010, share of enterprises (22.3.2012)
• Appendix table 3. Prevalence of marketing and organisational innovations by size category of personnel, 2008 - 2010, share of enterprises (22.3.2012)
• Appendix table 4a. Prevalence of marketing and organisational innovations by industry, 2008 - 2010, share of enterprises (22.3.2012)
• Appendix table 4b. Prevalence of marketing and organisational innovations in human health and social work activities by industry, 2008 - 2010, share of enterprises (22.3.2012)
• Appendix table 5a. Incorporation of users and user information in enterprises' innovation activities, methods and their importance 2008 - 2010, share of enterprises with innovation activity (22.3.2012)
• Appendix table 5b. Incorporation of users and user information in enterprises' innovation activities, methods and their importance in human health and social work activities 2008 - 2010, share of enterprises with innovation activity (22.3.2012)

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Updated 22.3.2012