In 2008 ISTAT published the results of a specific survey carried out by itself on innovation activity of the Italian companies, on the basis of criteria and methodologies shared by all EU countries, within the fourth European survey on innovation (Community Innovation Survey - CIS). The respondents are firms with at least 10 employees, operating in industries and services in the period 2002-2004.

The principal indicator of innovation in Italian companies is the number and percentage of firms that brought an innovation to the market during the three years under consideration. Other indicators describe distribution by type of company innovation (i.e. process, product or both). Innovation expenditure includes intramural and extramural R&D expenditure, investment in innovative machinery and equipment and in disembodied technology, design, marketing and training.

Figures 11.4 and 11.5 come from CIS survey. Figure 11.4 shows the share of innovative firms over national total in some European countries, Figure 11.5 points out the categories in which the innovation expenditure is broken down.

OECD is the source of Figure 11.6, which shows the width of the co-operation of innovating firms with public research organisations

11. Innovation

Fig. 11.4 - Innovating firms in some European countries, 2002-2004
Fig. 11.5 - Innovation expenditure of innovating manufacturing firms in some European countries, 2004
Fig. 11.6 - The co-operation of innovating firms with public research organisations in some European countries, 2002-2004