ifo Innovation Survey

Content

Innovations are among the most important determinants for micro- and macroeconomic growth. While the results of the ifo Innovation Survey, the industry- and product-specific innovation activities of enterprises can be displayed. In addition, the results supply macroeconomic information for industrial, structural and growth analyses.

Methods

Since the spectrum of innovation activities varies greatly from enterprise to enterprise, the ifo Institute uses a broad definition of innovation. The innovation activities covered in the ifo Innovation Survey include not only "radical" but also marginal innovations. Enterprises are classified as innovative if, in the survey year, they have implemented product and/or process innovations that in their understanding represent innovations and/or essential improvements in the product (product innovation) or process areas (process innovations).

Data sources

The ifo Institute has conducted a standardised, annual survey of innovation activities of enterprises in Germany and their determining factors since 1979. The ifo Innovation Survey conducted among survey participants of the ifo Business Survey consists of two question complexes. The special question on "Innovation" included in the ifo Business Survey (annually, in December) is concerned with the identification of innovative enterprises; the ifo Innovation Survey (annually, at mid-year) is a quantification and evaluation of the reported innovations by a classification of the know-how content, the innovation goals, innovation constraints, innovation stimuli and innovation expenditure at the time of the survey.

Results

The exploitation of innovation potential is increasingly threatened by the intensification of international competition. In addition numerous innovative firms complained of bureaucratic barriers and the lack of equity capital.

Publications on the project

Penzkofer, Horst and Heinz Schmalholz, "Innovationskraft der sächsischen Industrie hilft bei der Krisenbewältigung", ifo Dresden berichtet 16 (05), 2009, 30–39 | PDF Download

Penzkofer, Horst and Heinz Schmalholz, "Quo vadis 3-%-Ziel für Forschung und Entwicklung? : Sachsen gut dabei", ifo Dresden berichtet 15 (06), 2008, 3–13 | PDF Download

Penzkofer, Horst and Heinz Schmalholz, "Steigerung der Innovationsfähigkeit muss stärker in den Fokus der Förderpolitik rücken : das sächsische Beispiel zeigt warum", ifo Dresden berichtet 14 (04), 2007, 37–47 | PDF Download

Penzkofer, Horst, "Anstieg der Industrieinnovationen setzte sich 2004 fort", ifo Schnelldienst 58 (05), 2005, 42–49 | PDF Download

Penzkofer, Horst, "Innovationstätigkeit in der Industrie 2003: Rückgang gestoppt, aber keine Entwarnung", ifo Schnelldienst 57 (06), 2004, 46–52 | PDF Download

Penzkofer, Horst and Heinz Schmalholz, Innovationsverhalten der deutschen Industrie : Ergebnisse des ifo Innovationstests 1990-1997, ifo Studien zur Innovationsforschung 5, München, 1999 

Schmalholz, Heinz and Horst Penzkofer, Innovationsaktivitäten der deutschen Industrie : Entwicklung der Innovationsindikatoren vor dem Hintergrund der Rahmen- und Standortbedingungen der achtziger Jahre, ifo Studien zur Industriewirtschaft 45, ifo Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, 1993