German Business in China – Greater Shanghai Innovation Survey 2018/19
Shifting focus of innovation engagement
German manufacturing companies in Greater Shanghai engage mostly in product
innovation (72%) and less in other forms of innovation such as process innovation (53%)
or business model innovation (43%). However, looking into the future, the data suggest a
decreasing focus on product innovation and an increasing focus on business model
innovation.
Which of the following types of innovation do/will you engage in?
73%
72%
61%
60%
53%
53% 52%
43%
33%
Product innovation Process innovation Business model innovation
2017 2018 Within the next 3 years
This trend already emerged from the
results of the Greater Shanghai
Innovation Survey 2017, where only
33% of respondents indicated to
engage in business model innovation,
compared to 43% this year.
While technological innovation has traditionally been a huge driver of competitive
advantage and the core of innovation activity among manufacturing firms, there are
limitations to a technological leadership strategy and companies that broaden their scope
of innovation activity to remain competitive.
28