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Expenditure made by Basque companies during 2006 on technological innovation activities came to 2,610 million euros, having increased by 10.9% as regards the previous year, according to Eustat data. This expenditure represented 4.0% of GDP.

Among the main activities needed for innovation, most notable is expenditure on internal R&' || 'amp;D with 41.8% of spending, acquisition of machinery and equipment, with 34.0% and acquisition of external R&' || 'amp;D, with 13.7%, leaving 10.5% for other activities.

It can be seen that while expenditure on innovation increases year after year, the percentage of companies carrying out innovation remains at a similar rate. During the period 2005-2007, 16.1% of companies in the A.C. of Basque Country were innovators, corresponding to 30,202 companies. Innovating companies are those either capable of introducing a new or distinctly improved product, whether goods or services, onto the market (5.5% in 2007), or those that implement a new or distinctly improved process within their own establishment (14.5%).

When compared to Spain and other Autonomous Communities, it is noteworthy that the A.C. of Basque Country has the highest percentage of innovating companies (32.0%) with 10 or more employees, followed by Navarra (30.5%) and Catalonia (27.4%), with the Spanish media being 23.5%.

Elsewhere, 25.2% of the turnover of innovating companies came from innovation products, while unaltered or slightly modified products represented the remaining 74.8%. When these products were not only innovative for the company that carried them out but also for the market, then the average economic impact represented 12.1%.

These percentages varied slightly in companies with 10 or more employees, with new or distinctly improved products here accounting for an average of a 22.4% impact on turnover. If the product was also new for the market, the average economic impact was 8.7%.

27.7% of innovating companies received public funding

27.7% of innovating companies received some form of public funding for their innovation activities. Turning to the source of this aid, most notable was that coming from the Basque Government, which accounted for 15.8% of the total of these companies. In the case of companies with 10 or more employees, 44.0% received aid, with the Basque Government once more responsible for funding the most companies, specifically 33.6% of innovating companies of this size.

As regards cooperation on innovation, it was the case in 10.5% of establishments that carried out innovation, mainly due to the fact that only 9.3% of said establishments with less than 10 employees signed a cooperation agreement concerning innovation activities or R&' || 'amp;D.

Establishments with 10 or more employees that carried out innovation cooperation accounted for 22.0% Within this size of establishment, among those that had signed an agreement, cooperation with Technology Centres (47.6%), Equipment and materials suppliers (46.3%), Experts and consultants (35.0%), Other establishments in the same company (34.8%) and Universities and other institutes (37.8%) were the most outstanding.

Half the number of companies felt that there are factors that hinder technological innovation

Half the number of companies (50.7%) also felt that there are certain factors that hinder technological innovation. Among these factors, companies pointed to the high costs involved in carrying out innovation (42.0%), as well as the excessive economic risks (35.8%) Among companies with 10 or more employees, this percentage rose to 60.3%, with the same hindrances highlighted.

24.0% of innovating companies used a patent or other methods to protect their inventions or innovations

It should be pointed out that, during the period 2005-2007, 24.0% of innovating companies used a patent or other methods to protect their inventions or innovations. Over this period, 1.4% applied for a patent to protect inventions or innovations developed in their establishment and 1.9% had one in force by the end of 2007. As for other methods of protection, 23.4% of innovating companies used methods such as registered models, trademarks, copyright, etc.

These percentages were higher if only innovating companies with 10 or more employees were taken into account. To be more specific, 26.7% used, over this period, a patent or other method of protection, 5.3% applied for a patent and 7.5% had one in force by the end of 2007. Additionally, 24.2% used other protection methods.