B Innovation Process

4.6 Sources of information for innovation

Why is it significant?

In the knowledge economy, in order to compete, firms increasingly need to make the most of all available information, both externally and internally.

How does the UK perform?

The Community Innovation Survey found that for the EU as a whole, firms regarded internal sources of information more highly than external sources.  This is in contrast with the UK, where clients or customers were considered the most important.  In both the UK and the EU as a whole, universities or higher education institutes were used by relatively few firms as sources of information for innovation (Chart 4.6).

Last updated on 20 November 2003