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Innovation activity in enterprises in Sweden 2014-2016:

Most innovation co-operation in northern Sweden

Statistical news from Statistics Sweden 2018-05-25 9.30

Results from the latest community innovation survey show that almost half of small or medium-sized enterprises had innovation activities in 2014–2016. At regional level, results show an even distribution of innovation activity across the country. The share of enterprises with innovation co-operation is largest in northern Sweden and logistics innovation is most common in Småland med öarna.

Proportion of enterprises with innovation activities evenly distributed throughout the country

The percentage of enterprises with innovation activities was largest in Småland med öarna, where more than 47 percent of the enterprises conducted innovation activities. The corresponding figure in Stockholm was just below 47 percent. The results show that Mellersta Norrland had the smallest share of enterprises conducting innovation activities, where 37 percent stated that they had innovation activities. Throughout the country there where only small changes between 2012–2014 and 2014–2016.

Percentage of enterprises with innovation activities, 2012–2014 and 2014–2016

High percentage of enterprises with innovation co-operation in northern Sweden

The results show that the proportion of innovation co-operation has increased in northern Sweden, while it has decreased in southern Sweden. Between 2012–2014 and 2014–2016, innovation co-operation in Övre Norrland increased from 28 percent to 39 percent. Throughout the country, the percentage of enterprises with innovation co-operation remained unchanged between 2012–2014 and 2014–2016.

Percentage of enterprises with innovation co-operation, 2012–2014 and 2014–2016.

Suppliers were the most common co-operation partner in all regions except Sydsverige. In Sydsverige, co-operation with suppliers was as common as to co-operation with customers in the private sector. In Norra Mellansverige, a total of 89 percent of small and medium-sized enterprises with innovation co-operation reported that they had co-operation with suppliers. Co-operation with a partner located in Sweden was the most common form.

Innovation in logistics most common in Småland med öarna

In the latest community innovation survey, Statistics Sweden has endeavoured to determine the presence of innovation in logistics. Logistics is a set of services including the planning, organisation, management, execution and monitoring of an enterprise’s entire material, goods and related information flows. The results show that innovation in logistics is most common in Småland med öarna. In 2014–2016, 23 percent of the enterprises in this region responded that they had introduced innovation in logistics. The corresponding percentage in Sydsverige was 17 percent.

Percentage of enterprises with innovation in logistics, 2014–2016

Public financial support for innovation activities unevenly distributed across the country

Enterprises can receive public financial support for innovation activities, such as grants and loans from Swedish organisations like ALMI, Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth, Vinnova, as well as from the European Union. All regions have stated that support from central government, including government agencies and government ministries, was most common.

Stockholm and Sydsverige had the smallest share of public financial support in 2014–2016. In Stockholm, the share is 7 percent and in Sydsverige it is 9 percent. Enterprises in northern Sweden stated to a higher extent that they received public financial support for innovation activities. In Mellersta Norrland, the share was 27 percent, in Övre Norrland it was 23 percent and in Norra Mellansverige it was 22 percent. Throughout the country, 13 percent responded that they had received public financial support.

Definitions and explanations

Enterprises carrying out innovation activities include

  • Enterprises that have introduced product innovation, process innovation, organisational innovation or marketing innovation during the period 2014-2016
  • Enterprises that during the period 2014-2016 have abandoned or suspended the development of new products or processes before completion
  • Enterprises that at the end of 2016 had ongoing development activities of new products or processes that are not yet finished

 

Regional statistics 

The Results are presented on the regional level NUTS 2, which sections Sweden into eight parts.  NUTS is the regional classification used by the European Union for presenting statistics. The following link shows you the classification:

NUTS (pdf)

 

Publication

All tables are available in the attachment

Regional tables 2014-2016 (xlsx)

 

Feel free to use the facts from this statistical news but remember to state Source: Statistics Sweden.

Statistical agency and producer

Statistics Sweden, Innovation, Business sector production and Research section

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Rickard Bengtsberg

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Statistics Sweden, Innovation, Business sector production and Research section

E-mail
pin@scb.se