Business Research and Innovation surveys revealed that, despite high innovation costs and limited funds for research, enterprises were able to offer an increased range of goods and services and an improvement in quality, the National Statistics Office said yesterday.

Innovation expenditure

In 2006, the post and telecommunications sector represented the highest percentage share of total innovation expenditure, at approximately 21 per cent, followed by the food and beverages sector at 20 per cent. On the other hand the chemicals and chemical products sector recorded the highest intramural research and development expenditure at approximately 29 per cent.

Type of innovation activity

A total of 1,207 enterprises were surveyed, with a response rate of about 70 per cent.

Enterprises which reported product and/or process innovations totalled 232, while another five enterprises reported ongoing or abandoned innovation activity.

Research and development personnel

Responding enterprises reported a total of 585 persons employed in Research and Development of whom 468 were males and 117 females. Of these, 12 were Ph.D. graduates and 409 held a university degree or a tertiary diploma.