1. Business process innovation

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022 did this business introduce any of the following types of new or improved processes that differ significantly from the previous processes?

  • Methods for producing or developing goods or providing services        

  • New business practices for organising procedures or external relations

  • New methods of organising work responsibilities and decision making or human resource management

  • Marketing methods for promotion, packaging, pricing, product placement or after sales services

  • Logistics, delivery or distribution methods

  • Methods for information processing or communication

  • Methods for accounting or other administrative operations

  • No significant changes

Who developed these process innovations? 

  • Your business by itself

  • Your business together with other businesses or organisations

  • Your business by adapting or modifying processes originally developed by other businesses or organisations

  • Other businesses or organisations

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2. Innovation investment

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, did this business invest in internal research and development (R&D) for the purposes of current or future innovation?

  • Yes

  • No

How much did your business spend on internal research and development (R&D) in the calendar year 2022?

  • £ Total expenditure

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, did your business invest in the acquisition of research and development (R&D) for the purposes of current or future innovation?

  • Yes

  • No

How much did your business spend of acquisitions of research and development (R&D) in the calendar year 2022?

  • £ Total expenditure

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, did your business invest in the acquisition of machinery and equipment, computer hardware or software for the purposes of current or future innovation?

  • Yes

  • No

Which of the following did your business invest in for the purposes of current or future innovation?

  • Machinery and/or equipment

  • Computer hardware

  • Computer software

How much did your business spend on the acquisition of machinery and equipment, computer hardware or software in the calendar year 2022?

  • £ Total expenditure

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, did your business invest in the acquisition of existing knowledge for the purposes of current or future innovation?

  • Yes

  • No

How much did your business spend on acquisitions of existing knowledge in the calendar year 2022?

  • £ Total expenditure

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, did your business invest in training for innovative activities for the purposes of current or future innovation?

  • Yes

  • No

How much did your business spend on training for innovative activities in the calendar year 2022?

  • £ Total expenditure

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, did your business invest in any form of design activity for the purposes of current or future innovation?

  • Yes

  • No

How much did your business spend on all forms of design activity, for the purposes of current or future innovation, in the calendar year 2022?

  • £ Total expenditure

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, did your business invest in market introduction of innovations for the purposes of current or future innovation?

  • Yes

  • No

Which of the following did your business invest in for the purposes of current or future innovation?

  • Changes to product or service design

  • Market research

  • Changes to marketing methods

  • Advertising for a product or service launch

How much did your business spend on the market introduction of innovations in the calendar year 2022?

  • £ Total expenditure
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3. Product (goods or services) innovation

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, did your business introduce new or improved goods?

  • Yes

  • No

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, did your business introduce new or improved services?

  • Yes

  • No

Who developed these product innovations?

  • Your business by itself

  • Your business together with other businesses or organisations

  • Your business by adapting or modifying processes originally developed by other businesses or organisations

  • Other businesses or organisations

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, were any of your product (goods or services) innovations not previously offered by any of your competitors?

  • Yes

  • No

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, were any of your product (goods or services) innovations identical or very similar to products already offered by your competitors?

  • Yes

  • No

What was the estimated percentage of your business' total turnover in 2022 from products (goods and services) for each of the following definitions?

  • % Products (goods and services) introduced during the 3 years 2020 to 2022 that were not previously offered by any of your competitors

  • % Products (goods and services) that were identical or very similar to products already offered by your competitors

  • % Products (goods and services) that remained unchanged or only marginally modified during the 3 years 2020 to 2022

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4. Constraints on innovation

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, did your business have any innovation activities that were abandoned or ongoing?

  • Innovation activities were abandoned

  • Innovation activities were still ongoing at the end of 2022

  • No, there were no innovation activities that were abandoned or ongoing at the end of 2022

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important was any excessive perceived economic risk, such as exchange rates or interest rates, in constraining innovation activities?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important were direct innovation costs being too high in constraining innovation activities?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important was the cost of finance in constraining innovation activities?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important was the availability of finance in constraining innovation activities?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important was the lack of available qualified personnel in constraining innovation activities?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important was the lack of information on technology in constraining innovation activities?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important was the lack of information on markets in constraining innovation activities?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important was the effect of a market dominated by established businesses in constraining innovation activities?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important was a perceive uncertain demand for innovative goods or services in constraining innovation activities?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important were UK government regulations in constraining innovation activities?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important were EU regulations in constraining innovation activities?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important was the withdrawal of the UK from the EU in constraining innovation activities?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important were issues arising from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in constraining innovation activities?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important were technical, industry or service standards in constraining innovation activities?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important were recent increases in energy prices in constraining innovation activities?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022 if your business had no innovation activity, why has it not been necessary or possible to innovate?

  • No need due to previous innovations

  • No need due to market conditions

  • The UK does not have a business environment which encourages companies to innovate

  • Lack of qualified personnel

  • Availability or costs of finance

  • Issues arising from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

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5. Factors affecting innovation

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important was increasing the range of goods or services in your decision to innovate?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important was entering new markets in your decision to innovate?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important was increasing market share in your decision to innovate?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important was improving the quality of goods or services in your decision to innovate?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important was improving flexibility for producing goods or services in your decision to innovate?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important was improving capacity for producing goods or services in your decision to innovate?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important was increasing value added in your decision to innovate?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important was reducing costs per unit produced or provided in your decision to innovate?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important was improving health and safety in your decision to innovate?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important was reducing environmental impacts in your decision to innovate?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important was replacing outdated products or processes in your decision to innovate?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important was meeting regulatory requirements, including standards, in your decision to innovate?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important was meeting technical, industry or service standards in your decision to innovate?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important were issues arising from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in your decision to innovate?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important were recent increases in energy prices in your decision to innovate?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

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6. Information needed for innovation

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important to your business's innovation activities was information from within your business or enterprise group?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important to your business's innovation activities was information from suppliers of equipment, materials, services or software?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important to your business's innovation activities was information from clients or customers from the private sector?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important to your business's innovation activities was information from clients or customers from the public sector?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important to your business's innovation activities was information from competitors or other businesses in your industry?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important to your business's innovation activities was information from consultants, commercial laboratories or private research and development (R&D) institutes?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important to your business's innovation activities was information from universities or other higher education institutes?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important to your business's innovation activities was information from government or public research institutes?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important to your business's innovation activities was information from conferences, trade fairs or exhibitions?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important to your business's innovation activities was information from professional and industry associations?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important to your business's innovation activities was information from technical, industry or service standards?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important to your business's innovation activities was information from scientific journals and trade or technical publications?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important to your business's innovation activities was information from social web-based networks or crowd sourcing?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, how important to your business's innovation activities was information from regulators and/or regulations?

  • High importance

  • Medium importance

  • Low importance

  • Not important

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7. Co-operation on innovation and research and development (R&D)

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, what did your business co-operate with other businesses or organisations on?

  • Research and development

  • Other innovation activities

  • All other business activities

  • We did not co-operate with other businesses

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, if your business co-operated with other businesses within your enterprise group, what was their location?

  • UK

  • EU or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries

  • All other countries

  • We did not co-operate with other businesses or enterprise groups

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, if your business co-operated with suppliers of equipment, materials, services or software, what was their location?

  • UK

  • EU or EFTA countries

  • All other countries

  • We did not co-operate with suppliers of equipment, materials, services or software

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, if your business co-operated with clients or customers from the private sector, what was their location?

  • UK

  • EU or EFTA countries

  • All other countries

  • We did not co-operate with clients or customers from the private sector

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, if your business co-operated with clients or customers from the public sector, what was their location?

  • UK

  • EU or EFTA countries

  • All other countries

  • We did not co-operate with clients or customers from the public sector

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, if your business co-operated with competitors or other businesses in your industry, what was their location?

  • UK

  • EU or EFTA countries

  • All other countries

  • We did not co-operate with competitors or other businesses in our industry

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, if your business co-operated with consultants, commercial laboratories or private research and development institutes, what was their location?

  • UK

  • EU or EFTA countries

  • All other countries

  • We did not co-operate with consultants, commercial laboratories or private research and development institutes

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, if your business co-operated with universities or other higher education institutions, what was their location?

  • UK

  • EU or EFTA countries

  • All other countries

  • We did not co-operate with universities or other higher education institutions

Thinking about the most recent time your business worked with universities or other higher education institutions, where was the main university or institution located?

  • Within 15 miles of one of the physical sites of your business and within the UK

  • Further than 15 miles from the physical sites of your business and within the UK

  • Outside of the UK

  • Your business worked with them remotely, with no face-to-face contact

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, if your business co-operated with government or public research institutes, what was their location?

  • UK

  • EU or EFTA countries

  • All other countries

  • We did not co-operate with government or public research institutes

Thinking about the most recent time your business worked with government or public research institutes, where was the main government or public research institute located?

  • Within 15 miles of one of the physical sites of your business and within the UK

  • Further than 15 miles from the physical sites of your business and within the UK

  • Outside of the UK

  • Your business worked with them remotely, with no face-to-face contact

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, was this co-operation carried out via a public procurement process?

  • Yes

  • No

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, if your business co-operated with other businesses outside your enterprise group, what was their location?

  • UK

  • EU or EFTA countries

  • All other countries

  • We did not co-operate with other businesses outside the enterprise groups

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, if your business co-operated with non-profit organisations, what was their location?

  • UK

  • EU or EFTA countries

  • All other countries

  • We did not co-operate with non-profit organisations

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, if your business co-operated with regulatory bodies, what was their location?

  • UK

  • EU or EFTA countries

  • All other countries

  • We did not co-operate with regulatory bodies

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, if your business co-operated with standard developing organisations, what was their location?

  • UK

  • EU or EFTA countries

  • All other countries

  • We did not co-operate with standard developing organisations

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8. Innovation protection

During the period 2020 to 2022, what proportions of your innovations were protected by patents?

  • Over 90%

  • 40 to 90%

  • Less than 40%

  • None

During the period 2020 to 2022, what proportions of your innovations were protected by design registration?

  • Over 90%

  • 40 to 90%

  • Less than 40%

  • None

During the period 2020 to 2022, what proportions of your innovations were protected by copyright?

  • Over 90%

  • 40 to 90%

  • Less than 40%

  • None

During the period 2020 to 2022, what proportions of your innovations were protected by trademarks?

  • Over 90%

  • 40 to 90%

  • Less than 40%

  • None

During the period 2020 to 2022, what proportions of your innovations were protected by lead time advantages?

  • Over 90%

  • 40 to 90%

  • Less than 40%

  • None

During the period 2020 to 2022, what proportions of your innovations were protected by complexity of goods or services?

  • Over 90%

  • 40 to 90%

  • Less than 40%

  • None

During the period 2020 to 2022, what proportions of your innovations were protected by secrecy?

  • Over 90%

  • 40 to 90%

  • Less than 40%

  • None

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9. Public financial support for innovation

During the period 2020 to 2022, did your business receive public financial support for innovation activities from the following levels of government?

  • UK local or regional activities

  • UK central government

  • EU institutions or programmes

  • No public financial support was received for innovation activities from government

What kind of financial support was received by your business from UK central government?

  • Direct financial support

  • Indirect financial support -- research and development tax credits

  • Indirect financial support -- patent box, coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic support

  • Not sure

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10. Exports and skills

Did your business export in the calendar year 2022?

  • Yes

  • No

What was the proportion of employees who held a degree or higher qualification in the following areas for the calendar year 2022?

  • % Science or engineering subjects

  • % Other subjects

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, did your business employ individuals in-house with the following skills at any level, or obtain these skills from external sources?

  • Graphic arts, layout and advertising

  • Design of objects or services

  • Multimedia, web design

  • Software development, database management

  • Engineering, applied sciences

  • Mathematics, statistics

  • Data scientists

Which of the following management technologies did your business use, in the calendar year 2022?

  • Accountancy software

  • Customer relationship management

  • Electronic invoicing (e-invoicing)

  • Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software

  • HR management software

  • Videoconferencing software

Which of the following production-enhancing technologies did your business use, in the calendar year 2022?

  • Artificial intelligence (AI), robotics or automation

  • Business intelligence or business analytics

  • Cloud based computing

  • Computer aided design (CAD) software

  • Inter of things (IOT)

  • Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR)

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11. Environmental innovations

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, did your business introduce innovations that reduced material or water use per unit of output?

  • Yes

  • No

Were these contributions of innovations with reduced material or water use per unit of output significant to environmental protection within your business?

  • Yes, they were significant

  • No, they were not significant

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, did your business introduce innovations that reduced energy usage or carbon dioxide (CO2) footprint?

  • Yes

  • No

Were these contributions of innovations with reduced energy usage or CO2 footprint significant to environmental protection within your business?

  • Yes, they were significant

  • No, they were not significant

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, did your business introduce innovations that reduced soil, noise, water or air pollution?

  • Yes

  • No

Were these contributions of innovations with reduced soil, noise, water or air pollution significant to environmental protection within your business?

  • Yes, they were significant

  • No, they were not significant

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, did your business introduce innovations that replaced a share of materials with less polluting or hazardous substitutes?

  • Yes

  • No

Were these contributions of innovations which replaced a share of materials with less polluting or hazardous substitutes significant to environmental protection within your business?

  • Yes, they were significant

  • No, they were not significant

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, did your business introduce innovations that replaced a share of fossil energy with renewable energy sources?

  • Yes

  • No

Were these contributions of innovations which replaced a share of fossil energy with renewable energy sources significant to environmental protection within your business?

  • Yes, they were significant

  • No, they were not significant

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, did your business introduce innovations that recycled waste, water or materials for own use or sale?

  • Yes

  • No

Were these contributions of innovations which recycled waste, water or materials for own use or sale significant to environmental protection within your business?

  • Yes, they were significant

  • No, they were not significant

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, did your business introduce innovations that reduced energy use or CO2 footprint during the consumption or use of a good or service by the end user?

  • Yes

  • No

Were these contributions of innovations which reduced energy use or CO2 footprint, during the consumption or use of a good or service by the end user, significant?

  • Yes, they were significant

  • No, they were not significant

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, did your business introduce innovations that reduced air, water, soil or noise pollution during the consumption or use of a good or service by the end user?

  • Yes

  • No

Were these contributions of innovations which reduced air, water, soil or noise pollution, during the consumption or use of a good or service by the end user, significant?

  • Yes, they were significant

  • No, they were not significant

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, did your business introduce innovations that facilitated recycling of product after use during the consumption or use of a good or service by the end user?

  • Yes

  • No

Were these contributions of innovations which facilitated recycling of product after use, during the consumption or use of a good or service by the end user, significant?

  • Yes, they were significant

  • No, they were not significant

During the 3-year period 2020 to 2022, did your business introduce innovations that extended product life through longer-lasting, more durable products during the consumption or use of a good or service by the end user?

  • Yes

  • No

Were these contributions of innovations which extended product life through longer-lasting, more durable products, during the consumption or use of a good or service by the end user, significant?

  • Yes, they were significant

  • No, they were not significant

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12. General information

Please provide any additional information that will help us understand the answers you have provided

  • Comments

How long did it take you to complete this questionnaire?

  • Hours

  • Minutes

Would your business be willing to be contacted by telephone by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) or their appointed agents, to ask some further questions about innovation?

  • Yes

  • No

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