Good practice:

Regional Innovation Survey “Chair of Innovation”

This Regional Survey was created in 2008 as complement of the National Innovation Survey, since the latter does not measure innovative behaviours in companies with less than 10 employees. When talking about a region like Extremadura, where almost all companies are MicroSMEs (96.49%/ 2019 data) we find that the national innovation survey does not reflect reality.
The Regional Innovation Survey is financed by FUNDECYT-PCTEX and carried out by the University of Extremadura (UEx). It is an annual survey that measures formal and non-formal innovation, and is updated every year according to European, national and regional trends related to innovation (e.g. Oslo Manual).
Its main objectives are: to describe the innovation level of regional companies, to analyse why and how companies develop their innovation processes, to measure knowledge and relevance of entities for innovation, to identify the main obstacles for innovation and to observe organisational differences between innovative and non-innovative companies.
As a result of this survey a report is annually delivered (Annual Innovation Report) and presented, in a big event, to the regional enterprise network, the R&D&i community and Regional Authorities. Apart from measuring, this questionnaire also serves to raise awareness among those companies that do not know they are innovating (e.g. non formal innovation), but also to enable policy makers to develop policies that support and drive innovation in the territory.

Since 2008 UEx is in charge of carrying out this survey. Financed by FUNDECYT-PCTEX it has an annual budget of 15,000€ to develop the questionnaire, mail survey, results analysis, report edition, research activities and overheads. The team is made up of 3 professors who develop in part-time activity

The data obtained through this instrument shows relevant information for our region and for the policy makers.
The innovation report has been used in the elaboration of the R&D&i plans of the Regional Government of Extremadura, as a consultation tool by the group of experts in charge of drafting them. It has also been used in the preparation of the Business Competitiveness Plan 2021-2024 of the Regional Government of Extremadura.
The questionnaire is completed by hundreds of SMEs every year.

One of the challenges is to reach a greater number of microenterprises in order to have more information on the regional reality. Also, raising awareness among companies to collaborate with data collection. Finally, to encourage collaboration between public innovation entities and regional companies

This instrument has a big potential for transfer as it responds to an existing need in many European territories at regional level regarding those micro-SME out of records / formal measurements.
It gathers relevant information to know about the innovation status in a territory being a tool to measure both, formal and non-R&D driven innovation.
On the other hand, it helps to understand the behaviour of enterprises (reasons to innovate, obstacles, etc.) and offers a real scenario for policy makers to have in mind at the time of developing tools and policies focused on monitoring innovation.
No major resources (financial or personnel) are required to set it up.