This paper looks into the heterogeneous universe of services in Europe exploring nature, extent and sources of variety of innovation in this part of the economy and highlighting similarities and differences with innovation in the manufacturing industry. The evidence presented is based on the aggregated results of the last Community Innovation Survey released by EUROSTAT (CIS3) and on a unique database (SIEPI) containing data drawn by the previous CIS at a much finer level of sectoral aggregation. Although the CIS approach is characterised by a clear manufacturing-technological focus, data collected through this survey still represent the most rich, detailed and statistically robust information source on innovation activities in both manufacturing and service industries. The results presented in this paper show that when compared to manufacturing industries service sectors show a lower (technological) innovation intensity. However the innovation gap of services tends to close-up when organisational changes and investments in human resources are taken into account. Service firms compared to manufacturing enterprises - devote less resources to R&D and more resources to other types of innovation activities, make little use of patents, interact less with S&T institutions and much more with traditional suppliers of technology, are more likely to undertake training activities and organisational changes. The innovation behaviours of service firms are however far from being homogeneous. The inter-sectoral variance within services is even larger than the one found within the manufacturing industry and this reflects the presence of distinct largely sector specific - innovation regimes.
Innovation in the European service industries
Evangelista Rinaldo
2006
Abstract
This paper looks into the heterogeneous universe of services in Europe exploring nature, extent and sources of variety of innovation in this part of the economy and highlighting similarities and differences with innovation in the manufacturing industry. The evidence presented is based on the aggregated results of the last Community Innovation Survey released by EUROSTAT (CIS3) and on a unique database (SIEPI) containing data drawn by the previous CIS at a much finer level of sectoral aggregation. Although the CIS approach is characterised by a clear manufacturing-technological focus, data collected through this survey still represent the most rich, detailed and statistically robust information source on innovation activities in both manufacturing and service industries. The results presented in this paper show that when compared to manufacturing industries service sectors show a lower (technological) innovation intensity. However the innovation gap of services tends to close-up when organisational changes and investments in human resources are taken into account. Service firms compared to manufacturing enterprises - devote less resources to R&D and more resources to other types of innovation activities, make little use of patents, interact less with S&T institutions and much more with traditional suppliers of technology, are more likely to undertake training activities and organisational changes. The innovation behaviours of service firms are however far from being homogeneous. The inter-sectoral variance within services is even larger than the one found within the manufacturing industry and this reflects the presence of distinct largely sector specific - innovation regimes.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
