The Daily, Thursday, September 27, 2001. Innovation in Canadian manufacturing: Provincial estimates

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Innovation in Canadian manufacturing: Provincial estimates

The working paper Innovation in Canadian manufacturing: Provincial estimates is the second in a series that analyses results from the 1999 Survey of Innovation and examines the characteristics of innovative firms in manufacturing at the provincial level.

The survey, conducted in the fall of 1999, showed that four in five manufacturing firms were innovative during the period 1997 to 1999. That is, they offered a new or significantly improved product to their clients, or introduced a new or significantly improved production or manufacturing process. At the provincial level, the innovation rate for manufacturers fell in a narrow range of 73% to 83%.

The majority (86%) of innovative manufacturers acquired machinery, equipment or other technology linked to new or significantly improved products or production/manufacturing processes during the period 1997 to 1999. Firms in nearly all provinces reported the acquisition of process equipment as the most common activity linked to innovation. Alberta and Newfoundland were the exceptions; there, firms chose training linked to innovation with equal frequency.

At the national level, 68% of innovative manufacturing firms reported undertaking research and development activities during the period 1997 to 1999. Among the provinces, the percentage of innovative manufacturing firms that undertook research and development activities ranged from 61 to 78.

This working paper contains descriptive statistics and statistical tables on percentages of innovative firms, sources of information, activities linked to innovation, research and development, cooperative and collaborative arrangements, intellectual property, objectives, problems and obstacles, government support programs, impact and human resources. It also includes a description of the survey methodology.

The Survey of Innovation 1999 was a collaboration among the Science, Innovation and Electronic Information Division of Statistics Canada and three other departments: Industry Canada, Natural Resources Canada and the Institute for Research in Construction of the National Research Council of Canada. The survey's goal was to provide pertinent information on innovation and related activities in order to develop policies and programs.

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Susan Schaan (613-951-1953; susan.schaan@statcan.gc.ca) Science, Innovation and Electronic Information Division.