• From chaos to confidence
  • Emerging confidence
  • Working in a protectionist world
  • Future of Work
  • Maximizing the return on innovation
  • New actors driving innovation
  • Hype versus impact
  • The potential of additive manufacturing
  • Download report

GE QUESTION

GE GLOBAL
INNOVATION
BAROMETER

From chaos to confidence: Emerging players,
emerging technologies, emerging challenges

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Emerging confidence

The United States and Germany are dropping in rank as innovation champions, Japan and China are rising.

  • 2013
  • 2014
  • 2016
  • 2018
0%
0%
0%
0%
USA
0%
0%
0%
0%
Japan
0%
0%
0%
0%
China
0%
0%
0%
0%
Germany
0%
0%
0%
0%
Sweden
0%
0%
0%
0%
South Korea
0%
0%
0%
0%
UK
0%
0%
0%
0%
Canada
0%
0%
0%
0%
India
0%
0%
0%
0%
UAE
  • 2013
  • 2014
  • 2016
  • 2018
0%
0%
0%
0%
USA
0%
0%
0%
0%
Japan
0%
0%
0%
0%
China
0%
0%
0%
0%
Germany
0%
0%
0%
0%
Sweden
0%
0%
0%
0%
South Korea
0%
0%
0%
0%
UK
0%
0%
0%
0%
Canada
0%
0%
0%
0%
India
0%
0%
0%
0%
UAE
Question 1
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The innovation influencers

Explore how business executives in different regions view other countries when it comes to who is leading innovation.

Click on globe to explore.

Swipe or use arrows to explore.

Africa looks to China

A relationship of trade and investment

41 percent of business leaders in Africa see China as the innovation champion. With Chinese companies investing in Africa, China is now Africa's biggest economic partner.

Europe looks to Europe

A self-serving relationship

Europe sees countries within the continent as being key innovation champions (Germany 12 percent, Sweden 10 percent, U.K. 6 percent). However, 22 percent of business executives in Europe look to the United States as the innovation champion and 19 percent of executives look to Japan.

Asia looks to The United States

An aspirational relationship

Asia looks to the United States, with 34 percent of business executives viewing the United States as the innovation champion (64 percent in China).

The United States looks to The United States

A confident View

American business executives believe the United States is the innovation champion (61 percent).

Latin America looks to Japan

A relationship of trade and investment

33 percent of business executives in Latin America believe Japan is the innovation champion as Japan invests heavily in their region.

Africa looks to China

A relationship of trade and investment

41 percent of business leaders in Africa see China as the innovation champion. With Chinese companies investing in Africa, China is now Africa's biggest economic partner.

Europe looks to Europe

A self-serving relationship

Europe sees countries within the continent as being key innovation champions (Germany 12 percent, Sweden 10 percent, U.K. 6 percent). However, 22 percent of business executives in Europe look to the United States as the innovation champion and 19 percent of executives look to Japan.

Asia looks to The United States

An aspirational relationship

Asia looks to the United States, with 34 percent of business executives viewing the United States as the innovation champion (64 percent in China).

The United States look to The United States

A confident View

American business executives believe the United States is the innovation champion (61 percent).

Latin America looks
to Japan

A relationship of trade and investment

33 percent of business executives in Latin America believe Japan is the innovation champion as Japan invests heavily in their region.

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Question 1
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Working in a protectionist world

At 55 percent, a majority of global executives believe protectionist policies would benefit domestic businesses. Those that support such policies say it would give businesses a competitive edge and protect the workforce. Those that do not support protectionism say it would give government too much control and create barriers to investment.

  • Why do you think protectionism would have a beneficial effect on businesses in your country?
    Why do you think protectionism would have a negative effect on businesses in your country?

  • It gives domestic businesses a competitive edge

    It gives government too much control

  • It’s positive for jobs and workforce

    It creates barriers for investment

  • It fosters ideas domestically

    It reduces competitiveness

  • It provides government control

    It reduces your ability to attract
    talent from foreign countries

Question 7
Question 8
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Working in a protectionist world

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Future of work

Nearly three in four global executives believe a lack of skills is an issue facing their industry. And 64 percent say this problem is restricting their ability to innovate (a challenge that has increased over time, up from 56 percent in 2014).

Level of agreement is consistent across sectors (74%)
5%
5%
19%
43%
31%
Strongly disagree
Somewhat disagree
Somewhat agree
Strongly agree
Question 5B
Question 25
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A skilled workforce is key

Finding the right talent and skill sets is considered the most crucial element to innovation success across most markets.

Make a selection and explore the map to see what global business executives believe are most crucial for a company to be able to innovate successfully.

  • Skilled workforce
  • Harnessing data
  • Data security
  • Digital capability
  • Upskill employees
  • Take risks
  • Skilled workforce
  • Harnessing data
  • Data security
  • Digital capability
  • Upskill employees
  • Take risks
Question 16
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Maximizing the return on innovation

Globally, business executives say that 40 percent of innovations over the last five years have had a positive impact on their business's bottom line. While this may not be viewed as a financial success, venture capitalists would tell you this is a large margin.

40%
25%
20%
15%

A success that positively impacted the
bottom line and improved our position
in the market

A success that improved our position in
the market but did not positively impact
our bottom line

A failure that did not provide any
useful learnings for future
innovations

A failure that provided useful
learnings for future innovations

Question 23
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What’s the secret to success?

Find out how your answers stack up against the innovation achievers from the Global Innovation Barometer.

Select yes or no

Real-Time PollGlobal Innovation Barometer Survey Results

  • Has digitalization made it easier for you to measure your return on innovation?
    YESNO

    Loading...

    Yes 0% 0%

    No 0% 0%

  • Do you have a data security program in place to mitigate being hacked?
    YESNO

    Loading...

    Yes 0% 0%

    No 0% 0%

  • Do your investments help you demonstrate the value of innovation to clients and users?
    YESNO

    Loading...

    Yes 0% 0%

    No 0% 0%

  • Are you ready to accept a long term strategy to allow a breaking innovation?
    YESNO

    Loading...

    Yes 0% 0%

    No 0% 0%

  • Do you have a clear process and structure in place to measure innovation across various parts of your business?
    YESNO

    Loading...

    Yes 0% 0%

    No 0% 0%

Question 17
Question 22
Question 23
Question 24C
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New actors driving innovation

What is the main driver for innovation in your country?

Select one below

New actors driving innovation

Business executives globally see multinationals driving innovation while small and medium-sized companies and entrepreneurs and startups seem to have lost some of their innovation drive.

  • 2014
  • 2018
Your Choice!
0%
0%
Small and medium
companies
0%
0%
Entrepreneurs and
startups
0%
0%
Multinational
companies investing
in your country
0%
0%
Universities and
research labs
0%
0%
Government and
public authorities
at national level
  • 2014
  • 2018
Your Choice!
0%
0%
Small and medium
companies
0%
0%
Entrepreneurs and
startups
0%
0%
Multinational
companies investing
in your country
0%
0%
Universities and
research labs
0%
0%
Government and
public authorities
at national level
Question 3
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Hype versus impact

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Hype versus impact

Hype around certain technologies does not always equate to transformative impact. In fact, global executives believe that many under-hyped technologies will have a transformative impact.

  • How much "hype" is this technology creating in
    your country today?
  • How much impact and transformative
    change will this technology bring to your country?
0%
0%
Artificial and
machine
intelligence
0%
0%
Internet of
Things
0%
0%
Financial
technology
and currency
0%
0%
3D printing
0%
0%
Augmented
reality/
Virtual reality
0%
0%
Big Data
and
analytics
0%
0%
Smart
energy
grids
0%
0%
Nano-
technology
0%
0%
Driverless
transport
0%
0%
Smart
cities
0%
0%
Electrification
of the
transport system
0%
0%
Virtual
healthcare
diagnosis
  • How much "hype" is this technology creating in your country today?
  • How much impact and transformative change will this technology bring to your country?
0%
0%
Artificial and machine intelligence
0%
0%
Internet of Things
0%
0%
Financial technology and currency
0%
0%
3D printing
0%
0%
Augmented reality/ Virtual reality
0%
0%
Big Data and analytics
0%
0%
Smart energy grids
0%
0%
Nano- technology
0%
0%
Driverless transport
0%
0%
Smart cities
0%
0%
Electrification of the transport system
0%
0%
Virtual healthcare diagnosis
Question 9
Question 10
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The potential of additive manufacturing

Global executives are excited about the potential of 3D printing, saying it will have a positive impact, increase creativity and get goods to market faster. At the same time, 53 percent believe 3D printing has yet to reach its full potential, requiring more education and reassurance.

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Even though the majority of business executives believe 3D printing will be positive for businesses in their country,
they also say this technology has yet to realize its full potential.

0%
I think 3D printing will have both a positive and negative impact on businesses in my country
0%
3D printing is starting to become a reality but won't impact businesses for several years
0%
I think 3D printing will have a positive impact on businesses in my country
0%
3D printing has become a reality that is impacting businesses
0%
I think 3D printing will have a negative impact on businesses in my country
0%
3D printing has already had an impact on businesses
0%
3D printing isn't being talked about
0%
3D printing is talked about, but isn't a reality yet
0%
I think 3D printing will have both a positive and negative impact on businesses in my country
0%
3D printing is starting to become a reality but won't impact businesses for several years
0%
I think 3D printing will have a positive impact on businesses in my country
0%
3D printing has become a reality that is impacting businesses
0%
I think 3D printing will have a negative impact on businesses in my country
0%
3D printing has already had an impact on businesses
0%
3D printing isn't being talked about
0%
3D printing is talked about, but isn't a reality yet
Question 12
Question 13
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Benefits of additive manufacturing

Global business executives are visualizing 3D printing becoming a reality for them soon, and these are some of the key benefits motivating growth in this industry.

Allow businesses to be more creative in the products and goods they can create

91%

Enable goods to get market faster

89%

Reduce the cost of goods, making them more affordable

83%

Businesses that invest in 3D printing will leave other businesses behind

81%

Beneficial for the environment and reduce CO2 in manufacturing

80%
Question 14
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