Innovation modes in the Swiss service sector: a cluster analysis based on firm-level data

摘要

The aim of this paper is, firstly, to contribute to the understanding of innovation patterns in services. To this end, firms which are similar in terms of a large set of innovation indicators were grouped into clusters. For the Swiss case, it was possible to identify five clusters which exhibit clearly different configurations of a large number of innovation-related factors (appropri-ability, etc.) and several structural properties of firms (size, etc.). The clusters may thus be interpreted as specific "innovation modes". Secondly, we investigated whether these modes are "economically equivalent". In such a case, the unordered classifying of similar firms would be more appropriate than the ranking of industries according to their innovativeness. The evidence supports the classification approach quite well; however, the ranking procedure cannot be completely refuted. Finally, this paper yields some insights into the differences between the innovation patterns prevailing in services and in manufacturing.