June 30 (BTA) - During the period 2016-2018, 30.1 per cent of the enterprises with ten or more persons employed carried out an innovation activity. Compared to the previous innovation survey (2014-2016) the innovation activity increased by 2.9 percentage points, from 27.2 per cent to 30.1 per cent. An increase in the innovation activity was observed in the enterprises in the industrial sector, and in the service sector, by 3.7 and 2.5 percentage points, respectively.

The innovation activity of the enterprises in industry (35.3 per cent) was higher than of those in the service sector (24.6 per cent). The largest share of innovation-active enterprises was in the group of large enterprises (with 250 and more employees) - 76.1 per cent.

In 2018, the turnover of innovation-active enterprises constituted 57.0 per cent of the total turnover, and the persons employed, 57.8 per cent of the employees in all enterprises. In 29.2 per cent of the innovation-active enterprises, more than half of the employees were with higher education, while in innovation-inactive enterprises this share was 17.3 per cent.

In 2016-2018, 18.4 per cent of all enterprises realized product innovations (new or improved goods or services), while 20.8 per cent implemented new or improved business processes.

Among the enterprises with product innovations, the largest share was of undertakings which realized only new or improved goods, 48.3 per cent. New or improved services were provided by 27.5 per cent of the enterprises, while both new or improved goods and services were made by 24.2 of the undertakings.

More than half (51.5 per cent) of enterprises with product innovations realized goods or services that were new for them and for the market as well, i.e. not previously offered by competitors.

In order to carry out their innovation activity, 15.9 per cent of the innovation-active enterprises were involved in co-operation with other enterprises, research organizations and other partners. For the large enterprises (with 250 or more employees) this share was 26.9 per cent.

In 2018, 41.3 per cent of the turnover of the innovation-active enterprises was from sales to foreign customers, 26.5 per cent was from sales to customers from EU member states or EEA countries, and 14.8 per cent, from sales to customers from third countries. Customers from Bulgaria generated 58.7 per cent of the turnover of the innovation-active enterprises, while for innovation-inactive enterprises this share was 72.5 per cent.

The economic sector with the highest share of innovation-active enterprises was the production of medical substances and products, 66.7 per cent. RIZH


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