Innovation in Indian Industries: Insights from the First National Innovation Survey.

Technological innovations, as the key to building competitive advantage, need a comprehensive review to address the issues related to transformation of the Indian industries. The present paper reports the broad findings of the first National Innovation Survey undertaken by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. The findings presented here highlight the status of innovation related activities in different industrial sectors, its weaknesses, and areas requiring institutional interventions. The survey results underline the fact that the innovation activities in Indian industries are more for survival in a competitive market conditions than to create market advantage. A sort of disconnect between the innovation support system and the production system is a discernible fact that surfaces from the study. The study also indicates certain characteristics of the innovation behaviour of firms that brings out developing country issues of innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]