Innovation and Performance: Benchmarking Australian Firms

Melbourne Institute Working Paper No. 07/01

Date: June 2001

Author(s):

Simon Feeny
Mark Rogers

Abstract

This paper empirically analyses the link between innovation and performance using a sample of large Australian firms, with a specific aim of developing benchmarking tools. Innovation is measured by firms investment in R&D and applications for patents, trademarks and designs. An innovation index is constructed which incorporates a firms innovative activities into a single figure after accounting for firm size. The index provides a ranking of the most innovative firms in Australia. Firms which have a higher (and lower) than expected performance outcome from their innovative activities are also identified.

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