8158.0 - Innovation in Australian Business, 2012-13 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 21/08/2014   
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APPENDIX 1 MEASURING INNOVATION IN THE MEDICAL DEVICES INDUSTRY


INTRODUCTION

1 Advanced manufacturing of medical devices has been identified by Australian Government as an industry where there is opportunity for future growth. In order to have the information required for policy development and implementation, the Department of Industry funded a small additional sample in the 2012-13 Business Characteristics Survey (BCS). Inclusion of the additional sample for the ANZSIC classes involved in manufacturing of medical devices enables separate results for this group of ANZSIC classes to be released. More information is available upon request.

DEFINING THE MEDICAL DEVICES INDUSTRY

2 For the purpose of this survey, the Medical Devices industry was defined as employing, Australian businesses classified within either of the following two Manufacturing classes:

      Class 2411 Photographic, optical and ophthalmic equipment manufacturing
      Class 2412 Medical and surgical equipment manufacturing

All other BCS scope and coverage rules also apply.

KEY FINDINGS

Summary of innovative activity for all businesses within defined industries, key indicators, 2012-13
Medical devices(a)
Manufacturing(b)
          All businesses(c)
Businesses that introduced any new or significantly improved(d):
goods or services
%
30.9
30.6
20.0
operational processes
%
32.1
23.8
16.9
organisational/managerial processes
%
27.1
20.3
20.2
marketing methods
%
30.3
20.9
18.8
Businesses that introduced innovation (innovating businesses)
%
51.9
43.9
36.6
Businesses with innovative activity that was(d):
still in development(e)
%
32.6
29.8
22.8
abandoned
%
2.0
9.8
5.9
Businesses with any innovative activity (innovation-active businesses)
%
55.1
50.4
42.2
(a) Proportions are of only businesses defined as being in the Medical devices industry.
(b) Proportions are of all businesses within the Manufacturing industry division, including those in the Medical devices industry.
(c) Proportions are of all Australian businesses.
(d) Businesses may be counted in more than one category.
(e) As at the end of the reference period 30 June 2013.


3 More than half of all businesses within the Medical devices industry introduced at least one type of innovation during the year ended 30 June 2013 (52%). These businesses were more likely to have introduced any of the types of innovation than businesses in the broader Manufacturing industry.

4 A third of businesses in the Medical devices industry had innovative activity still in development as at 30 June 2013, compared with less than a quarter of all Australian businesses.