What is this?
The Innovation questionnaire looks at whether enterprises have sold new goods or services, whether they have implemented changes in their internal procedures or organisation, or whether they have made any investments for said changes.
Why did we receive this?
Because the Brussels Government uses these statistics to better align its innovation policy with real developments in the business world.
Who's this intended for?
This questionnaire is meant for all enterprises.
  • Even if changes were imposed by headquarters and were merely implemented in your enterprise.
  • Even if your enterprise performs contract research for others exclusively, as new knowledge or applications are created this way.
  • Even if your enterprise did not have any changes since a negative answer is just as valuable for the end results as a positive answer.
If you think this questionnaire is not relevant to your enterprise, please contact us:
  • by e-mail:
  • by phone:
Authority
  • All European Union member states are required to provide data to the European Commission on innovation activities among companies in their countries (Regulation EC 995/2012).
  • The Brussels Capital Region entrusted the Belgian Science Policy Office (Belspo) with this survey.
Privacy
  • Answers to this questionnaire will be treated confidentially.
  • The collected data will be published only in summary statistics, used in the preparation of indicators and scientific research by Belspo. The Statistics Act applies to this questionnaire, so no statistics can be disseminated from which information on individual companies can be deduced.
  • By filling in your name and contact information, you give Belspo permission to contact you for more information or to complete certain answers, or to contact you again for future surveys.


For remarks or questions, you can always contact us:
  • by e-mail:
  • by phone:

Part 1 - Administrative data

1.1. Enterprise data

Name of enterprise

Enterprise number

Address

 

Phone number

E-mail

Website

Main activity
Nace code:
Description:

Remarks
Important
Please fill in the questionnaire for the enterprise number mentioned at the top right corner of each page.

1.2. Who, within the enterprise, is the most suitable person to fill in this questionnaire or to hand over to?

Salutation

First name

Last name

Job title

Phone number

E-mail

Part 2 - Product innovations: new or improved goods or services

2.1. Did your enterprise sell any new or significantly improved products in 2020-2022?

This does not include
  • Merely reselling new products purchased from another enterprise, unless it is a completely new line of products
  • Changes of a purely aesthetical nature

Yes|No

New or improved goods

New or improved services

2.2. Who developed these product innovations your enterprise sold in 2020-2022?

Multiple options are possible

Your enterprise by itself

Your enterprise together with group members, other companies or (government) institutions

Your enterprise, by adjusting or changing products originally developed by other companies (group members or others) or (government) institutions

Mainly byothers: group members, other enterprises or ((government) institutions

2.3. How who you describe your product innovations introduced in the 2020-2022 period?

Yes|No

New compared to your competitors' offer

Identical or very similar to your competitors' offer , but new to your enterprise's offer

2.3.1. What proportion of your total sales in 2022 came from each of the above-mentioned product groups?

An estimate to the best of your abilities suffices

Products (goods or services) which were new compared to your competitors' product range (see 2.3.a.)

approximately %

Products which were identical or very similar to products already offered by your competitors (zie 2.3.b.)

approximately %

Other unchanged or only marginally modified products (including reselling new products purchased from other enterprises

approximately %

Total turnover 2022

%

2.3.2. As far as you know, was one of your product innovations a world first in 2020-2022?

Yes

No

No idea

Part 3 - Process innovations: new or improved processes or methods

3.1. Which of the following process innovations did your enterprise introduce in its operations in 2020-2022?

Yes|No

New or improved:

Methods for producing or developing goods or providing services

Logistics, delivery or distribution methods

Methods for information processing or communication

Methods for accounting or other administrative operations

Business practices for organizing procedures or external relations

Methods of organizing work responsibility, decision making or human resource management

Marketing methods for promotion, packaging, pricing, product placement or after sales services

if you answered "no" on all questions, go to question 3.3

3.2. Who developed these process innovations which your enterprise introduced in its operations in 2020-2022?

Multiple options are possible

Your enterprise by itself

Your enterprise together with group members, other companies or (government) institutions

Your enterprise, by adjusting or changing processes originally developed by group members, other companies or (government) institutions

Mainly by others: group members, other companies, or (government)institutions

Abandoned or suspended innovation activities

3.3. Did your enterprise have innovation activities in 2020-2022 which have not (yet) been implemented in your enterprise?

Yes|No

Abandoned or suspended innovation activities

Innovation activities that were still ongoing by the end of 2022

Completed innovation activities not yet introduced/used by the end of 2022

Part 4 - Research & Development (O&O)

4.1.1. Did your enterprise conduct research and development activities (R&D) in 2020-2022??

Multiple options are possible

Yes|No

R&D carried out under your enterprise's direct supervision or at clients’ premises (= internal R&D)

R&D conducted by a group member, another enterprise or research institution and purchased by your enterprise (= external R&D)

4.1.1.1. How frequently did your enterprise conduct internal R&D activities in 2020-2022?

Continuously (you have employees continuously involved in R&D activities)

Occasionally (as needed only)

4.1.2. Did your company have any innovation activities (including R&D) that did not result in the implementation of an innovation in 2020-2022?

Yes|No

Abandoned or suspended innovation activities

Innovation activities still in progress end of 2022

Completed innovation activities that have not yet resulted in the implementation of an innovation by the end of 2022

 If you answered "no" on all options of question 4.1, go to question 4.2.4.

 If you answered "no" on all options of questions 4.1 and 4.2, go to question 4.2.4.

4.2.1. Did your enterprise carry out research and development (R&D) in one of the following domains in 2020-2022?

Yes|No

Biotechnology of biochemistry

Nanotechnology

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

4.2.2. How many employees were involved in your internally conducted R&D activities in 2022?

From the 2022 Research and Development questionnaire:
Internal R&D employees in 2021:
headsfull-time equivalents(FTE)
Own personnel
External personnel under your direct supervision

An estimate to the best of your abilities suffices

Heads|Full-time
equivalents(FTE)|None

Own personnel/managers/owners who contributed to the internally conducted R&D activities in your company or at clients' premises

heads FTE

External personnel (consultants, freelancers, self-employed, academics) from group members or enterprises who worked on internally conducted R&D activities under your company's direct supervision

heads FTE

4.2.3. What were the gross expenses for R&D in 2022?

From the 2022 Research and Development questionnaire:
Gross expenses in 2021:
Internal R&D
External R&D

An estimate suffices|None

For internal R&D

€

of which gross wage costs for your own R&D personnel (incl. Social Security contribution by employers, extra-legal benefits, …)

€

of which the cost for external R&D employees (consultants, freelancers, self-employed, academics) who worked on internally conducted R&D activities under your company's direct management

€

of which investments for R&D (buildings, machinery, equipment)

€

of which other operational expenses and overhead costs for R&D

€

External R&D (R&D carried out by a group member/enterprise/institution and purchased by your enterprise)

€

TOTAL

€

Expenditure for innovation activities, other than R&D

4.2.4. What were the gross expenses for non-R&D innovation activities in 2022?

An estimate suffices|None

Gross wage costs for your own personnel working on your innovations or on implementing innovations

€

Purchase of services (e.g. feasibility studies, design, engineering activities, market research, …), materials, supplies for innovation

€

Investments for innovation (machinery, equipment, and buildings)

€

Other non-R&D innovation expenditure, excluding R&D expenditure

€

TOTAL

€

Part 5 - Reasons for not having had (more) innovation activities

5.1. Your enterprise did not have more/any innovation activities during 2020-2022, due to:

Tick one box only

A lack of resources, qualified personnel, material

Other reasons but the lack of resources

No need for (further) innovation activities

Part 6 - Co-operation for innovation and R&D

6.1. Did your enterprise co-operate with a group member, other enterprises, or (public) organizations in 2020-2022?

Multiple options are possible

Yes

on R&D

on innovation activities

on other business activities

No

Go to Part 7

6.1.1. Which partners did your company co-operate with for its R&D or innovation activities in the 2020-2022 period?

Multiple options are possible

Wallonia|Rest of
Belgium|Rest of
Europe*|Rest of
the world

Brussels|Rest of
Belgium|Rest of
Europe*|Rest of
the world

Enterprises within your enterprise group

Enterprises outside your enterprise group

consultants, commercial labs or private research institutions

suppliers (e.g. of equipment, materials, components, software, ...)

clients from the private sector

competitors/other enterprises in your sector

other enterprises

Universities, other institutions for higher education or university hospitals

Public institutions or public research institutions

Clients from the public sector

Non-profit organizations (research centres)

* European Union (excl. United Kingdom), as well as Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland

Part 7 - Funding

7.1. Did your enterprise receive public support from the following government services in 2020-2022?

Multiple options are possible

For R&D or
innovation|For other
activities

Regional government agencies

through the Brussels Capital Region (Innoviris, etc.)

through the Walloon region (SPW, etc.)

through the Flemish Region (Vlaio/IWT, etc.)

Federal government

partial exemption from payroll tax for R&D staff (through Belspo)

tax credit or investment deduction for R&D investments

tax exemption for patent income

other

European Union (EU)

through the EU's Horizon 2020 program

other

None of the above

7.2. Did your enterprise seek additional funding in the 2020-2022 period?

Yes, and obtained
it for R&D or
innovation activities|Yes, and obtained
it for other
business activities|Yes, but did not
obtain it|No, no need for it

Equity finance

Debt finance (with/without interest)

Part 8 - Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)

8.1. Did your enterprise in the 2020-2022 period:

Multiple options are possible

apply for a patent?

register an industrial design right?

register a trademark?

claim a copyright?

use trade secrets?

None of the above

8.2. Did your enterprise in the 2020-2022 period:

Multiple options are possible

license out its own intellectual property rights (IPRs) to others

sell its own IPRs (or assign IP rights) to others?

exchange IPRs (vb. via pooling, cross-licensing, etc.)?

None of the above

Part 9 - Innovations with environmental benefits

Definition
An innovation with environmental benefits is a new or improved product or process that has a reduced environmental impact compared to pre-existing products and processes and is made available to potential users or put into operation.
  • Environmental benefits may be the primary objective of the innovation or a derivative of other objectives.
  • The environmental benefits of an innovation can occur during the production of a good or service or during its consumption or use by the end user of the product. The end user can be an individual, another company, the government, etc.

9.1. Did any of the innovations mentioned above (introduced in the 2020-2022 period) have any of the following environmental benefits, whether intentionally or unintentionally?

Yes,
significant|Yes, but
insignificant|No/N.A.

Environmental benefits obtained within your enterprise

Reduced material or water use per output unit

Reduced energy use or CO2 footprint (reduced total CO2 emission)

Reduced soil, light, noise, water, or air pollution

Replaced some materials with less polluting or hazardous substitutes

Replaced a share of fossil fuel energy with renewable energy sources

Recycled waste, water, or materials for own use or sale

Protection of biodiversity

Environmental benefits obtained during consumption or use by the end user

Reduced energy use or CO2 footprint

Reduced soil, light, noise, water, or air pollution

Facilitated recycling of product after use

Extended product life through longer-lasting, more durable, or easier-to-repair products

Protection of bio-diversity

9.2. During 2020-2022, how important were the following factors in driving your enterprise's decisions to introduce innovations with environmental benefits?

Tick one box for each line.

Degree of importance

High|Medium|Low|Not relevant

Existing environmental regulations

Existing environmental taxes, charges or fees

Environmental regulations or taxes expected in the future

Government grants, subsidies or other financial incentives for environmental innovations

Current or expected market demand for environmental innovations

Improving your enterprise’s reputation

Voluntary actions or initiatives for environmental good practice within your sector

High cost of energy, water or materials

Need to meet requirements for public procurement contracts

9.3. During 2020-2022, how important were the following factors related to climate change for your business?

Tick one box for each line

Degree of importance

High|Medium|Low|Not relevant

Government policies or measures related to climate change

Increasing customer demand for products that help mitigate or adapt to climate change (e.g. low-carbon products)

Increasing costs or input prices resulting from climate change (e.g. higher insurance fees, higher prices for water, adaptation of processes or facilities)

Impacts of extreme weather conditions (e.g. damages/disturbances)

Part 10 - Economic data

10.1. What was the enterprise's average number of persons employed?

|corrections

Headcount in 2020

heads heads

Headcount in 2022

heads

10.2. What was your enterprise's total turnover?

|corrections

Turnover in 2020

€ €

Turnover in 2022

€

10.3. How were sales in 2022 distributed geographically?

Remark
The country in which the billed client is located determines the geographical distribution of sales.

Sales within Belgium

approximately %

Export within Europe*

approximately %

Export to the rest of the world

approximately %

TOTAL

approximately %

* European Union (excl. the United Kingdom), as well as Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

10.4. Was your enterprise part of an enterprise group in 2022?

|any necessary corrections

No

Yes

as the parent company*

as a branch/subsidiary with 50% or less participation by the parent company

as a branch/subsidiary with more than 50% participation by the parent company

* "global ultimate owner"

10.4.1. Where was your group's parent company* located in 2022 ?

Tick one box only

|corrections

Belgium

Abroad,

namely

Part 11 - Supplementary question

11.1. Did your enterprise notice an influence on its operations in the 2020-2022 period from the following occurrences?

If yes, as follows:

Negative|Neutral|Positive|No/N.A.

Economic crisis (e.g. financial crisis, recession, ...)

Sudden price increases (e.g. energy crisis, inflation, ...)

Material or labor shortages

Natural phenomena (e.g. disasters, extreme drought/floods, ...)

Disease in humans/animals/crops (e.g. COVID, bird flu, mildew, …)

Security conflicts (e.g. war, terror attacks, ...)

Other crises, namely

11.1. Has your company undertaken the following actions with one or more group companies in 2020-2022?

Yes,
other entreprises
in Belgium|Yes,
other entreprises
abroad|No

Incoming flows from other enterprises within the group

transfer of technical knowledge

transfer of financial means

transfer of personnel

Internalization of activities

Outgoing flows to other enterprises within the group

transfer of technical knowledge

transfer of financial means

transfer of personnel

outsourcing of activities

Part 12 - Comments and suggestions

Comments on your answers or suggestions for improvement of the questionnaire




For questions or additional information, please contact us:
  • via e-mail:
  • by phone:

Thank you for answering this questionnaire.

Click the "Finish" button at the bottom right of this page
to close the survey.