The IPA has conducted minute surveys(1). Here are the conclusions of the one dedicated to research and innovation....
The data collected shows that the crisis is not holding back innovation. On the contrary, in these times of economic turmoil, R&D and innovation appear to be helping companies to remain competitive and grow. What's more, companies are no longer hesitating to put all their resources to work. The good news is that not only are R&D and innovation investments up on 2008, but they are also set to rise over the next 2 years.
Over the last 2 years, 78.5 % of respondents claim to have launched one (or more) new product(s), service(s) or process(es). The survey results show that the number of incremental innovations (modification, transposition or improvement of already existing products/processes) still exceeds that of breakthrough innovations.
Among these innovations, product innovations are still the most frequently cited. Process innovations are on the decline. They mainly concern automation, which rose significantly (55 % versus 28 % in 2008), heat treatment and energy saving, which remained stable. Service innovations were up sharply: 27 % versus 9 % in 2008.
As in 2008, the main objectives of innovation remain to increase sales and develop a competitive edge.
On the other hand, 2010 saw a clear increase in manufacturers' interest in customer service: improving product quality, satisfying demand, increasing brand awareness. In these troubled times, economic concerns dominate: productivity gains are a growing objective (21 % versus 13.5 % in 2008).
While the in-house R&D department logically remains the key player in company innovation, more and more companies are drawing on the know-how and experience of in-house teams not specifically dedicated to R&D (production, sales, etc.): 51 % versus 38 % in 2008.
Companies also make greater use of innovation centers, competitiveness centers, external technical centers (14 % vs. 8.5 % in 2008) and laboratories.
In 2010, only 2 % of companies claim that innovation is not part of their current strategy. This figure is significantly down on the 11 % of 2008.
The 3 obstacles to innovation are the same as in 2008. However, while the issues of time and human resources are down, budgetary issues are up significantly. Technical and technological difficulties and access to external funding come in a close second.
To finance research, companies are not hesitating to reach into their pockets: the proportion of sales devoted to R&D is rising sharply.
28 % of companies devote 1 to 3 % of their sales to it; 16 % more than 3 % of their sales; 24 % less than 1 % of their sales.
This upward trend in investment is set to continue, as 68 % of companies believe that the proportion invested in R&D will either increase (38 %) or remain stable (30 %) over the next 2 years. At the same time, 77 % of respondents plan to bring innovations to market.
(1) Conducted in May 2010, this new Enquête Minute collected testimonials from 144 national and international professionals from all sectors representative of the food industry.
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