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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INNOVATION BY STATUS


INNOVATION-ACTIVE BUSINESSES

During the reference period, 42% of Australian businesses were classified as innovation-active (businesses that undertook any form of innovative activity). This represents approximately 318,000 businesses.

Diagram: Innovation-active businesses

More than half of all businesses in the Wholesale trade, Retail trade and Information media and telecommunications industries were innovation-active during the reference period (53%, 51% and 51% respectively). In contrast, businesses in the Transport, postal and warehousing industry were the least likely to be innovation-active, at 28%.


INNOVATING BUSINESSES

Almost two in five Australian businesses introduced at least one type of innovation during the year ended 30 June 2013. The proportion of innovating businesses increased with each successive employment size range, from almost a third of businesses with 0-4 persons employed (29%) to over two thirds of businesses with 200 or more persons employed (67%).

Businesses were most likely to have introduced organisational/managerial processes and goods or services (both 20%).

Diagram: Innovating businesses

Businesses in Wholesale trade (the industry with the highest proportion of innovating businesses) were twice as likely to have introduced innovation in 2012-13 as businesses in Transport, postal and warehousing (the industry with the lowest proportion), 48% compared with 24%.

The Retail trade and Manufacturing industries had the highest proportion of businesses with goods or services introduced (both 31%), while the Wholesale trade industry had the highest proportion of businesses that introduced operational processes (30%). Businesses in the Mining industry were most likely to have introduced organisational/managerial processes (26%).

The Agriculture, forestry and fishing and Electricity, gas, water and waste services industries had the lowest proportion of businesses that introduced goods or services (both 10%). Businesses in the Agriculture, forestry and fishing industry were also the least likely to have introduced operational processes (10%) and organisational/managerial processes (12%). The Transport, postal and warehousing industry had the lowest proportion of businesses that introduced marketing methods (8%).

Further data relating to introduced innovation can be accessed via the Downloads tab.


INNOVATION STILL IN DEVELOPMENT

More than one in five businesses had innovation still in development as at 30 June 2013. Consistent with results from 2011-12, goods or services and marketing methods were the most common types of innovation that were still in development (both 12%).

Diagram: Innovation still in development

Businesses in the Wholesale trade and Information media and telecommunications industries were most likely to have innovation still in development (both 34%). The Transport, postal and warehousing industry recorded the lowest proportion of businesses with innovation still in development (11%).

Almost one quarter of businesses in the Information media and telecommunications industry had goods or services still in development (24%). The highest proportion of businesses with operational processes still in development was in the Mining industry (18%). Businesses in the Health care and social assistance industry had the highest proportion of organisational/managerial processes still in development (14%), while one in five businesses in the Retail trade industry were still developing marketing methods as at the end of the reference period.

Further data relating to innovation still in development can be accessed via the Downloads tab.


ABANDONED INNOVATION

During the reference period, 6% of Australian businesses abandoned at least one innovative activity. Businesses with 200 or more persons employed were the least likely to have abandoned any innovative activity (4%), while businesses with 5-19 persons employed were the most likely (7%).

Goods or services and marketing methods were the types of innovation most likely to be abandoned during the year ended 30 June 2013 (both 3%).

Diagram: Abandoned innovation

Overall, the Manufacturing industry had the highest proportion of businesses that abandoned innovative activity during the year ended 30 June 2013. Businesses in this industry were also the most likely to have abandoned goods or services (7%). Businesses in the Mining and Administrative and support services industries were the most likely to have abandoned operational processes (both 4%), while the highest proportion of businesses that had abandoned the introduction of marketing methods were from the Retail trade and the Other services industries (both 5%).

Further data relating to abandoned innovation can be accessed via the Downloads tab.