Innovation Canada: A Call to Action

The Context of the ReviewBox 2.4 Where Do Businesses Get Their Ideas for Innovation?The Panel undertook a survey of R&D-performing firms in Canada with a sample of more thanone thousand companies randomly selected to be representative along the dimensions of size,region and sector. a A key question in the survey asked: “What are the most important sourcesfor your firm’s innovation ideas?” (respondents were able to identify multiple sources). Morethan a third (37 percent) first mentioned “employees” as the most important source ofinnovation ideas, and an additional 22 percent identified employees in further mentions.The next most important source was “clients/customers” (25 percent of first mentions).No other source of innovation ideas was first mentioned by more than 5 percent of thesurveyed R&D-performing businesses.a Further discussion of the survey is found in Chapter 5.Most Important Sources of Firms’ Innovation Ideas“What are the most important sources for your firm’s innovation ideas?”[Open ended – Multiple responses accepted]EmployeesClients/customersInternet, general researchOther businessesIndustry sources/itself, identified industrial needsMarket research, targeting, competitionMyself, self-directed/imposed/my own creativityUniversities, colleges and polytechnicsR&D research (general)According to need/problems arisingSuppliersLiterature, professional/industry magazines, articlesDid not know/no response22%25%24%5%10%4%17%3%8%3%12%3%2%2%7%2%2%2%3%1%2%1%8%2%0%37%First mentionOther mentions0 20 40 60 80 100Percentn = 1009Source: Results from a survey of firms conducted for the Panel by EKOS Research Associates Inc., 2011.2-13