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Most companies have not received public financial support for R&D or other innovation activities since January 2011, reports the 2014 Innobarometer survey on “The role of public support in the commercialisation of innovations”. Most importantly, access to finance is still the main obstacle encountered by companies in the commercialisation of their products or services. However, 66% of companies say that they have introduced at least one innovation in the last three years and for 61% of companies, innovative goods or services contributed 25% or less to annual turnover in 2013.

The survey was designed to benchmark innovation activities and to explore barriers to commercialisation and the role of public funding in the diffusion of innovation. It was conducted in the 28 EU Member States as well as in Switzerland and the United States.

European Commission Vice President Antonio Tajani, Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship, said: “Innovation plays a pivotal role in sustaining and improving Europe’s overall competitiveness and growth. We need to work closely with Member states to help SMEs gain access to credit so as to empower them to successfully commercialise their innovations”.

Lack of financial resources hinders the commercialisation of innovations

The survey covered the following areas:

1. Companies that develop innovations: 66% of companies have introduced at least one innovation since January 2011.

2. The impact of innovations on turnover: For 61% of companies, innovative goods or services contributed 25% or less to annual turnover in 2013.

3. Actors involved in the development of ideas for innovation: More than three quarters of companies say management (87%) and employees (78%) contributed to the development of ideas for innovations.

4. Types of public support received for innovation activities and its importance for innovation:

• - Most companies (91%) say they have not received public financial support for R&D or other innovation activities since January 2011;

• - Even companies that received public support for commercialising their innovations are most likely to say this support was not important (67%).

1. Barriers to commercialisation of both innovative and non-innovative products and services: 68% of companies consider the lack of financial resources as the main obstacle to the commercialisation of innovative products or services.

2. The role innovation plays in public procurement, including involvement in the Public Procurement of Innovative Solutions: 18% of companies have won at least one public procurement contract, since January 2011. However, just over one third of companies (38%) that won a public procurement contract sold innovative goods or services.

Background

The Innobarometer is published since 2001 as a special issue of the Flash Eurobarometer of the European Commission. Flash Eurobarometers are ad hoc thematic telephone interviews conducted at the request of the EC services which enable to obtain results quickly and focusing on specific target groups when required.

The 2014 Innobarometer survey “The role of public support in the commercialisation of innovations” was conducted at the request of the Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry in the 28 EU Member States as well as in Switzerland and the United States.

This survey was carried out by TNS Political & Social network between 22 January and 11 February 2014. Some 11.206 respondents from different social and demographic groups were interviewed via telephone (landline and mobile phone) in their mother tongue on behalf of the European Commission, DG Enterprise and Industry.

For more information

MEMO/14/384

http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/flash/fl_394_en.pdf2014 Innobarometer survey

http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/innovation/policy/innobarometer/i ndex_en.htm

http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/flash_arch_404_391_en.htm - 394http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/flash_arch_en.htmFlash Eurobarometer reports