Progress to date
The first step towards this goal was the creation of the UIS Catalogue of Innovation Surveys, which contains a compilation of the questions that are most frequently asked in innovation surveys. In 2011, the results of a UIS Pilot Data Collection of Innovation Statistics were released. The first global innovation data collection was launched in 2013 by the UIS. The results are available in UIS Data Centre
In addition to these data-gathering activities, the UIS also helps countries structure the national production of innovation statistics, in particular by providing them with conceptual and methodological training about data collection and analysis. For example, Ecuador and China have both received technical support from the UIS to design their national innovation surveys.
The UIS and a range of partners, notably RICYT (Red Iberoamericana de Indicadores de Ciencia y Tecnología)*, have produced a set of guidelines on how to implement innovation surveys in developing countries. The promotion of the work of the UIS on innovation statistics is to a great extent facilitated by the collaboration with these national, regional and international organizations.
*RICYT undertook the first efforts to develop guidelines for innovation surveys outside of the OECD and the European Union. This resulted in the Bogotá Manual, which is used in some innovation surveys conducted in Latin American countries.