Half of companies are innovating

Between 2014 and 2016, 51% of companies with 10 or more employees were innovative in the non-agricultural market sectors, three points more than over the 2012-2014 period. Companies were more frequently innovative in their organisation or marketing (42%) than in products or processes (33%). Among companies with innovative products, 68% introduced a new product in one of their markets.

Information and communication companies were the most innovative (73%), followed by those in the industrial sector (59%) and specialised, scientific and technical activities (59%).

The propensity to innovate increased with the size of companies, but also with belonging to a group; however, the gap between them and independent companies narrowed over the 2014-2016 period.

Companies with innovative products or processes devoted 7% of their sales turnover to their innovation activities, half of which went into research and development.

Public financial support benefited more than one out of three companies with innovative products or processes; research tax credits and tax or social security exemptions are the most frequently requested aid measures.

Half of companies did not innovate, due to lack of financial resources or lack of demand.