Table 2: Regional Innovation Benchmarks: 1999
|
Northern Ireland |
Republic of Ireland |
Bavaria | |
|
Constraints on Innovation (% plants) | |||
|
Riskiness of Innovation |
21.9 |
22.3 |
31.8 |
|
Low Expected Rate of return |
39.7 |
37.6 |
44.2 |
|
Attitudinal barriers |
7.5 |
12.4 |
8.5 |
|
Lack of finance |
29.9 |
30.3 |
33.9 |
|
Few market opportunities |
25.1 |
27.5 |
37.7 |
|
Lack of information |
9.5 |
14.5 |
11.6 |
|
Legislative requirements |
11.7 |
16.8 |
22.8 |
|
Lack of partners |
6.4 |
10.6 |
10.6 |
|
Lack of expertise |
17.8 |
28.4 |
14.1 |
Objectives of Innovation (% plants)
|
Replace existing products |
54.7 |
48.7 |
47.3 |
|
Extend product range |
77.9 |
78.9 |
77.3 |
|
Increase market share |
80.9 |
75.5 |
92.3 |
|
Enter new mkts |
69.6 |
63.5 |
64.9 |
|
Reduce production costs |
48.7 |
40.5 |
57.9 |
|
Environmentally friendly products |
23.9 |
27.6 |
28.1 |
|
Improve product quality |
71.3 |
64.8 |
74.6 |
|
Match competitors |
61.6 |
54.9 |
27.6 |
|
Undertaking R&D (% of Plants) |
51.9 |
56.3 |
55.0 |
|
Graduates (% of workforce) |
7.1 |
8.9 |
8.0 |
Multifunctional Working (% plants)
|
Identifying New Products |
60.6 |
65.3 |
42.1 |
|
Prototype Development |
52.2 |
60.9 |
32.1 |
|
Final Product Design |
65.8 |
62.5 |
45.9 |
|
Product Testing |
74.1 |
74.0 |
55.5 |
|
Production Engineering |
54.0 |
41.7 |
18.2 |
|
Market Research |
25.7 |
24.2 |
7.5 |
|
Developing Market Strategy |
27.4 |
23.8 |
6.0 |
Links to Innovation Partners (% plants)
|
Other Group Companies |
22.5 |
28.9 |
17.0 |
|
Clients/Customers |
31.4 |
32.8 |
23.3 |
|
Suppliers |
31.0 |
34.6 |
28.4 |
|
Competitors |
8.6 |
9.3 |
5..3 |
|
Consultants |
16.2 |
25.4 |
11.6 |
|
Govt Research Labs |
8.3 |
12.1 |
5.9 |
|
Industry Operated Labs |
7.8 |
9.9 |
7.5 |
|
Private Research Institutes |
8.2 |
9.8 |
4.2 |
|
University/Higher Education |
18.3 |
19.1 |
14.4 |
|
Product Innovation (% plants) |
62.8 |
67.2 |
70.3 |
|
Sales as % New Products |
15.9 |
17.4 |
20.5 |
Sources: See text.
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