Survey of Innovation and Business Strategy, 2012

Obstacles to innovation in Canada

“Uncertainty and risk” was the most common obstacle to innovation in 2012, with 22.4% of enterprises facing this barrier according to the Survey of Innovation and Business Strategy. Provincially, 25.9% of enterprises in Ontario and 25.1% of enterprises in Quebec encountered this obstacle to innovation.

“Lack of skills within the enterprise” (17.9%) was the second most frequent obstacle to innovation in 2012. Among industries, manufacturing firms (25.2%) were the most likely to face this barrier, while 18.6% of enterprises in surveyed services industries encountered similar constraints.

The third most common obstacle to innovation was “internal financing,” with 15.6% of enterprises identifying this barrier in 2012, down from 22.8% in 2009. In terms of firm size, medium-sized (19.7%) enterprises were the most likely to face this obstacle in 2012.

Innovation in Canada: Data availability

Data on innovation from the Survey of Innovation and Business Strategy, first released in The Daily on February 14, 2014, are now available in CANSIM for 2009 and 2012. Tables on the use of advanced technology, process innovation, organizational innovation, product innovation, marketing innovation, the use of government support programs for innovation and obstacles to innovation are available by region, enterprise size and all surveyed industries.

Available in CANSIM: tables CANSIM table358-0237 to 358-0270.

Tables CANSIM table358-0237 and CANSIM table358-0238: The use of advanced technology.

Tables CANSIM table358-0239 to 358-0245: Process innovation.

Tables CANSIM table358-0246 to 358-0249: Organizational innovation.

Tables CANSIM table358-0250 to 358-0260: Product innovation.

Tables CANSIM table358-0261 to 358-0265: Marketing innovation.

Tables CANSIM table358-0266 and CANSIM table358-0267: The use of government support programs for innovation.

Tables CANSIM table358-0268 to 358-0270: Obstacles to innovation.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number survey number5171.

For more information, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca).

To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Louise Earl (613-951-2880) or Marc Nadeau (613-951-3692), Investment, Science and Technology Division.