Abstract
This study aims to identify the main characteristics of the activities concentrating on R&D and innovation in the industrial sector of high and medium-high technology, and also the main differences with regard to non technological sectors. In order to do so we use data on 1540 manufacturing companies in Spain in two subgroups according to the National Classification of Economic Activities (CNAE). The data correspond to the values of 44 variables organised into 5 blocks of activity that have to do with R&D and innovation. The study includes an exploratory-descriptive analysis with the aim of providing information, and evidence of the outstanding characteristics of sectors with more technological components compared with other industrial manufacturing sectors. Although the study refers to Spanish companies, a large proportion of the results are easily transferrable to similar socioeconomic environments.
Highlights
Sectors with a high added value, such as the production of high technology that requires a more demanding preparation, have not experienced the desired drive and are still in a minority in Spain
According to the INE (2016), i) The business turnover of manufacturing companies in Spain from the high and medium-high technology sector was 158,058 million euros in 2014, which represented an increase of 5.2% compared to 2013. ii) The high technology sectors employed 1,205,500 people in 2014, which was 7.0% of the total number of the working population of the Spanish economy. 28.9% of the total number of people working in these sectors were women
With a presence in less than 15% of companies we find innovations in the management of external relations, in marketing by design or by promotion, in marketing outlets, and in pricing innovations
Summary
Sectors with a high added value, such as the production of high technology that requires a more demanding preparation, have not experienced the desired drive and are still in a minority in Spain (as far as the number of companies, the generation of employment, and added value are concerned). In Spain in order to determine the list of high-technology activities and products we start from the methodological studies carried out by the OECD on this subject, together with their adaptations to the European situation carried out by Eurostat (Instituto Nacional de Estadística, INE, 2005). High technology is characterised by: i) fast renovation of knowledge far superior to that of other technologies, and ii) its degree of complexity, which requires a continuous research effort and a solid technological base (INE, 2005, 2011)
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