ABS measuring business innovation, Feb 2004

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MEDIA RELEASE

February 27, 2004
Embargoed: 11:30 AM (AEST)
34/2004


ABS measuring business innovation

Measuring Australian business innovation and the factors influencing it, is the aim of a new Australian Bureau of Statistics survey issued today to 8,500 businesses around the country.

The Innovation Survey 2003 was developed in response to calls from policy makers and business for updated and internationally comparable statistics on the innovation performance of Australian business.

Results from the survey will be released in late 2004, and will provide information for the 2003 reference period on:
  • the level of technological as well as non-technological innovation;
  • detail on the types of innovations occurring;
  • the proportion and characteristics of businesses that are innovating (i.e. introducing new products, operational processes and organisational/managerial processes);
  • the links between technological and organisational change;
  • the extent of cooperative linkages of businesses with other organisations; and
  • the costs of innovation (for the financial year 2002-03).

Through this information, improved understanding of the relationship between innovation and business performance/productivity is also anticipated.

The Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources and the Department of Education, Science and Technology provided financial support to the survey, demonstrating the importance of updated statistics to policy setting to ensure the best environment for innovation by Australian business.

The cooperation of businesses in responding to this survey is essential to accurate measurement of the level, causes and impacts of innovation, and is greatly appreciated.