Innovation survey Reports

Innovation surveys ‘objective is to measure innovation output and various aspects of innovation activities performed by business enterprises. Innovation is widely recognized as being important to economic growth and progress, particularly as innovation by business enterprises is vital in ensuring their future accomplishment and competitiveness in an increasingly competitive global market. The South African Business Innovation Survey is undertaken by the Human Sciences Research Council’s Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators (CeSTII) on behalf of the Department of Science and Innovation

This site and the attached, downloadable documents, cover the methodology employed and the results for the business sector covered in the surveys.

Conceptual framework
Oslo Manual (Proposed Guidelines for Collecting and Interpreting Technological and Industrial Innovation Data) was developed in 1992 for Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) countries and European Commission and it was revised until 2018.The South African Business Innovation Survey is based on the guidelines of the OECD Oslo Manual and more specifically the methodological recommendations for round five of the Community Innovation Survey for European Union (EU) countries as provided by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Commission. Using these guidelines enabled the production of indicators that were both relevant for South Africa and internationally comparable.

Measurement design
Innovation surveys reflects interesting and significant data for public policy and are designed to measure the extent of innovation in the business sector of a country and, among other measures, to estimate expenditure on various innovation activities. South Africa’s Business Innovation Survey examine the innovation activities in enterprises from small to very large, and across a range of industries. Business Innovation Survey provide a national picture about what innovations are taking place, how they occur at firm-level, and what can be done to enhance innovation capacity.