Businesses that are innovation active by year

Variable filters

You will be able to change the filter selections once you've chosen how to view the data.
Data description

This indicates what a data value represents

1 of 1 selected
No values match your search
Area
14 of 14 selected
No values match your search
Year
7 of 7 selected
No values match your search

Choose how to view the data

You'll be asked to choose 2 variables to show on a table
The data will be shown with columns for each of the variables in the dataset, with a data value for all combinations of variables

Next update expected:May 2026

Updates

30th October 2025
25th September 2025
Dataset first published.

Main information

Designation
Official statistics
Data provider
Office for National Statistics (ONS)
Data source
UK Innovation Survey (UKIS)

Overview

Summary of dataset and variables

This data shows the percentage of businesses that are innovation active. The UK definition of innovation is based on an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) definition, outlined in the Oslo Manual 2018.

Businesses are considered to be innovation active if they:

• Introduced a new or significantly improved product (goods or service) or process;

• Engaged in innovation projects not yet complete or abandoned;

• Acquired new and significantly improved forms of organisation, business structures or practices and marketing concepts or strategies.

Data collection or calculation

The UK Innovation Survey is funded by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT). The survey was conducted on behalf of DBT by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The survey was voluntary and conducted by means of both an electronic questionnaire and telephone interview for businesses that had not yet completed an electronic response. The sample is drawn from the ONS Inter-Departmental Business Register.

Statistical quality

As the data come from a survey, the results are sample-based estimates and therefore subject to differing degrees of sampling variability, i.e. the true value for any measure lies in a differing range about the estimated value. This range or sampling variability increases as the detail in the data increases, for example individual local authority data are subject to higher variability than Wales data.

Related reports

Published by

Organisation
Welsh Government
Contact email
economic.stats@gov.wales