16 December 2011

'Statistics on high-tech industry and knowledge-intensive services' (sometimes referred to as simply 'high-tech statistics') comprise economic, employment and Science, technology and innovation (STI) data describing manufacturing and services industries broken down by technological intensity. The domain uses various other domains and sources mainly within Eurostat's official statistics (CIS, COMEXT, HRST, LFS, SBS, SES, PAT and R&D). Its coverage is therefore dependent on these other primary sources. Two main approaches are used in the domain to identify technology-intensity: the sectoral approach and the product approach. A third approach is used for data on high-tech and biotechnology patents aggregated on the basis of the International Patent Classification.  (See summary table under 21.3 for which approach is used by each type of data.)

The sectoral approach:
The sectoral approach is an aggregation of the manufacturing industries according to technological intensity (R&D expenditure/value added) and based on the Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community (NACE) at 3-digit level. The level of R&D intensity served as a criterion of classification of economic sectors into high-technology, medium high-technology, medium low-technology and low-technology industries. In some cases, due to restrictions of the data sources used, the aggregations are made at NACE 2-digit level.

Services are mainly aggregated into knowledge-intensive services (KIS) and less knowledge-intensive services (LKIS) based on the share of tertiary educated persons at NACE 2-digit level.

The sectoral approach is used for all indicators except data on high-tech trade and patents. Note that due to the revision of the NACE from NACE Rev. 1.1 to NACE Rev. 2 the definition of high-technology industries and knowledge-intensive services changed. For high-tech statistics it means that two different definitions (one according NACE Rev. 1.1 and one according NACE Rev. 2) are used in parallel and the data according to both NACE versions are presented in separated tables depending on the data availability. For example as the LFS provided the results both by NACE Rev. 1.1 and NACE Rev. 2, all the table using this source have been duplicated to present the results by NACE Rev. 2 from 2008. For more details, see both definitions of high-tech sectors under 21.3.

Within the sectoral approach, a second classification has been created - Knowledge Intensive Activities - based on the share of tertiary educated people in each sectors of industries and services according to NACE at 2-digit level and for all EU 27 Member States. A threshold was then applied to rank sectors as knowledge intensive. In contrast to first sectoral approach mixing two methodologies one for manufacturing industries and one for services, the KIA classification is based on one methodology for all the sectors of industries and services.

The aggregations in use are total Knowledge Intensive Activities (KIA) and Knowledge Intensive Activities in Business Industries (KIABI). Note that due to revision of the NACE Rev.1.1 to NACE Rev. 2 the list of  Knowledge Intensive Activities has changed as well. The two definitions are used in parallel and the data according both NACE versions are shown in two separate tables. NACE Rev.2 collection includes data starting from 2008 reference year. For more details please see the definitions under 21.3.

The product approach:
The product approach was devised to complement the sectoral approach. It opens the way to far more detailed analysis of trade. The product list is based on the calculations of R&D intensity by groups of products (R&D expenditure/total sales). The groups classified as high-technology products are aggregated on the basis of the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC). 

The product approach is used for data on high-tech trade. Due to the revision of the SITC from SITC Rev. 3 to SITC Rev. 4 the definition of high-tech products has changed as well. The primary data source, COMEXT, has already implemented the new SITC Rev. 4. Two data collections are now available in high-tech domain for high-tech products: one by SITC Rev. 3 from 1995 to 2006 and second by SITC Rev. 4 from 2007.  For more details, see definition of high-tech products under 21.3.

High-tech patents are defined according to another approach. The groups classified as high-tech patents are aggregated on the basis of the International Patent Classification (IPC 8^th edition). Biotechnology patents are also aggregated on the basis of the IPC 8^th edition. For more details, see the aggregation list of high-tech and biotechnology patents under 21.3.

The high-tech domain also comprises the sub-domain Venture Capital Investments. Data are provided by the European Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (EVCA). More details will be available in the Eurostat metadata specifically for Venture Capital Investments

Dependent on the data source used. See metadata for the various primary sources under 21.2.

The regional breakdown of the EU Member States is based on the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS).

For the sector approach the manufacturing sector and the service sector are covered.

Statistics on high-tech industry and knowledge-intensive services' domain uses various other domains and sources mainly within Eurostat's official statistics (CIS, COMEXT, HRST, LFS, PAT, SBS, SES, and R&D).

Below, the main concepts are explained by data type/data source. For more details, please refer to methodologies of the specific data source.

1) Venture capital investments (VCI)
Data on Venture Capital Investments (also available in the Eurobase high-tech domain) are provided by the European Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (EVCA). The data are aggregated according to stage of development of venture capital. Because of the significant changes in the methodology of EVCA survey and consequent modifications in the structure of stages of development, the new VCI collection had to be added to include revised data from 2007 onwards.

For more information regarding methodologies, see the Venture Capital investment metadata under 21.2.

The above mentioned information concerns the Eurobase tables HTEC_VCI_STAGE1 and HTEC_VCI_STAGE2.

2) High-tech trade (COMEXT)
According to the product approach, the groups classified as high-technology products have been defined according to their R&D intensity (R&D expenditure/total sales). The groups classified as high-technology products are aggregated on the basis of the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC). Two definitions of high-tech products are now in use: one according to SITC Rev.3 and one according to SITC Rev.4. As the collection of data by SITC Rev.3 stopped in 2006, new tables have been created in high-tech domain to present new time series for high-tech products according to SITC Rev.4. (For more details, see the aggregation list of high-tech products in annex 4 and 5 under 21.3).

All high-tech trade data are extracted from the COMEXT database - Eurostat's database of official statistics on EU external trade and trade between EU Member States. Trade data reported by countries other than EU, EFTA and candidate countries are extracted from the UN Statistics Division's Comtrade database and included in the COMEXT database as a separate dataset. Note that high-tech exports include re-exported imports. That means some countries might show large figures due to that a large number of goods pass through the country and is counted as both imports and exports.

The world market share is a ratio in which the nominator is the sum of the total exports/imports of high-tech products from countries (entities). The denominator is calculated as the sum of high-tech exports from all countries/entities in the world. This means that the denominator for world market shares when counting EU as an entity is lower, as it excludes intra-EU trade. As data originate from two different sources with partly different methodologies, analysis should be done with caution.

The indicator exports/ imports of high-tech products as a percentage of total is calculated as share of exports/imports of high-technology products from a country (entity) in total exports/imports from this country (entity).

In the cases of relative indicators (market share, percentage of total) the EU totals include only extra-EU trade (i.e. they exclude intra-EU trade). This makes it possible to consider the EU as an entity and compare it with other countries. Nevertheless, figures for the individual EU Member States include intra-EU trade.

For more information regarding methodologies, see External trade statistics metadata under 21.2.

The above mentioned information concerns the Eurobase tables: HTEC_TRD_TOT, HTEC_TRD_TOT 4, HTEC_TRD_GROUP, HTEC_TRD_GROUP4, HTEC_SI_EXP, HTEC_SI_EXP4, HTEC_TRD_WEU, HTEC_TRD_WEU4 and HTEC_TRD_WMS, HTEC_TRD_WMS4.

3) Economic/employment statistics on high-tech industries and knowledge-intensive services (SBS)
Data come from Structural Business Statistics (SBS). For more information regarding methodologies, see the SBS metadata under 21.2.

The above mentioned information concerns the Eurobase tables: HTEC_ECO_SBS, HTEC_ECO_SBS2, HTEC_EMP_SBS and HTEC_EMP_SBS2.

4) Employment in high-tech (LFS)
Data come from EU Labour force survey (LFS). Employed people are defined as persons aged 15 year and over who during the reference week performed work, even for just one hour a week, for pay, profit or family gain or were not at work but had a job or business from which they were temporarily absent because of, e.g., illness, holidays, industrial dispute and education and training. In high-tech statistics for data quality reasons, the population excludes anyone below the age of 15 or over the age of 74.

The data are aggregated according to the sectoral approach at NACE level 2. Until reference year 2008 sectors were aggregated according NACE Rev. 1.1 (see list in annex 2 under 21.4). In 2008 NACE Rev. 2 was implemented (see list in annex 3 under 21.3) and the data by NACE Rev.2 aggregated in high-tech sectors were presented in separate tables: HTEC_EMP_NAT2, HTEC_EMP_NISCO2, HTEC_EMP_NISCED2, HTEC_EMP_REG2, HTEC_EMP_RISCO2 and HTEC_EMP_RISCED2.

For more information regarding methodologies, see the LFS metadata under 21.2.

The above mentioned information concerns the Eurobase tables: HTEC_EMP_NAT, HTEC_EMP_NISCO, HTEC_EMP_NISCED, HTEC_EMP_REG, HTEC_EMP_RISCO and HTEC_EMP_RISCED, HTEC_EMP_NAT2, HTEC_EMP_NISCO2, HTEC_EMP_NISCED2, HTEC_EMP_REG2, HTEC_EMP_RISCO2 and HTEC_EMP_RISCED2.

5) Earnings in high-tech (SES)
The Structure of Earnings Survey (SES) represents EU-wide harmonised structural data on gross earnings, hours paid and annual days of paid holiday leave which are collected every four years.

The SES gives detailed and comparable information on relationships between the level of remuneration, individual characteristics of employees (sex, age, level of education, etc) and their employer (economic activity and location of the enterprise). Data have been aggregated according to the sectoral approach at NACE 2-digit level and both data for SES 2002 and 2006 are aggregated according NACE Rev. 1.1 (see annex 2 under 21.3).

For more information regarding methodologies, see the SES metadata under 21.2.

The above mentioned information concerns the Eurobase tables: HTEC_EARN_SEX, HTEC_EARN_AGE and HTEC_EARN_ISCED.

6) HRST in high-tech (HRST)
These data concern stocks of Human Resources in Science and Technology (HRST) in high-tech. The data on stocks are obtained from the European Union Labour Force Survey (LFS). An HRST stock can be defined as "the number of people at a particular point in time who fulfils the conditions of the definition of HRST" (see HRST metadata under 21.2). For data quality reasons, the population excludes anyone below the age of 15 or over the age of 74 from the figures.

Data have been aggregated according to the sectoral approach at NACE 2-digit level. Until reference year 2008 sectors were aggregated according NACE Rev. 1.1 (see list in annex 2 under 21.4) but from reference year 2008 sectors are aggregated according NACE Rev. 2 (see list in annex 3 under 21.3). 

For more information regarding methodologies, see the HRST metadata under 21.2.

The above mentioned information concerns the Eurobase tables: HRST_ST_NSEC, HRST_ST_NSECSEX and HRST_ST_RSEC, HRST_ST_NSEC2, HRST_ST_NSECSEX2 and HRST_ST_RSEC2.

7) R&D expenditure and personnel in high-tech (R&D)
These data concern R&D expenditure and R&D personnel in the business enterprise sector (BES) and more specifically in high-tech. R&D data are compiled in accordance to the guidelines laid down in the Proposed standard practice for surveys of research and experimental development - Frascati Manual, OECD, 2002. Data have been aggregated according to the sectoral approach at NACE Rev. 1.1 at 2-digit level.

For more information regarding methodologies, see the R&D metadata under 21.2.

The above mentioned information concerns the Eurobase tables: HTEC_STI_EXP and HTEC_STI_PERS.

8) High-tech and biotechnology patent applications to the EPO/patents granted by the USPTO (PAT)
These data concern high-tech and biotechnology patent applications to the European Patent Office - EPO and patents granted by the US Patent & Trademark Office - USPTO. High-tech patents are defined according to another approach (nor sectoral and nor product approaches). The groups classified as high-tech patents are aggregated on the basis of the International Patent Classification (IPC 8^th edition). Biotechnology patents are also aggregated on the basis of the IPC 8^th edition (see aggregation list in annex 5 under 21.3).

For more information regarding methodologies, see Patent application to the EPO metadata and Patents granted by the USPTO metadata under 21.2.

The above mentioned information concerns the Eurobase tables: PAT_EP_NTEC, PAT_US_NTEC, PAT_EP_NBIO, PAT_US_NBIO and PAT_EP_RTEC.

9) Community innovation survey in high-tech (CIS)
The Community Innovation Survey (CIS) is a survey on innovation activities in enterprises. The full survey is conducted  on a four-yearly basis  but every two years a partial survey takes place. The CIS is based on the Oslo Manual which gives methodological guidelines and defines the innovation concepts. Data are aggregated according to the sectoral approach based on NACE Rev. 1.1 - 2 digit level in 4 CIS waves (CIS1ight, CIS3, CIS4, CIS5) and starting with CIS6, the data collection is based on NACE Rev. 2 - 2-digit level.

For more information regarding methodologies, see the CIS metadata under 21.2.

The above mentioned information concerns the Eurobase tables: INN_CISL, HTEC_CIS3, HTEC_CIS4, HTEC_CIS5, HTEC_CIS6.

10) Knowledge Intensive Activities

The data in this sub-domain concern employment in Knowledge Intensive Activities (KIA) identified based on a level of tertiary educated persons in sectors of economic activity.

The data covering EU-27, EFTA and candidate countries are extracted and compiled from EU-Labour Force Survey for the population aged 15-64. Two collections presenting KIA are available: one by NACE Rev.1.1 until reference year 2008, and the second by NACE Rev.2 starting with reference year 2008. Only time series by NACE Rev.2 is subject to annual updates.

The KIA collection by NACE Rev.2 contains as well the data for Japan and United States starting with 2008 reference year.  Please note that for JP and US tabulated data public available have been extracted directly from JP Statistics Bureau and US Bureau of Labour Statistics websites. The source data in both countries are originally collected and presented according to the national classifications of sectors of economic activities. The KIA classification was constructed based on the correspondence tables rallying NACE Rev.2 with JSIC Rev.12 in Japan and US NAICS 2007 in United States.

The data source for Japan KIA indicator is the Japan Labour Force Survey (LFS). The data refer to the number of persons employed in economic sectors according to JSIC Rev.12 and aged 15-64 years old.

In the United States, the Current Population Survey (CPS) is the primary source of information for the labour force characteristics. Please note that in case of US data, the employment figures available refer to age group 16 years old and over and correspond to the US NAICS 2007 classification of economic activities.

It must be noted that among valid classifications of economic activities: EU - US and JP, a simple correspondence 1 - to - 1 is not always possible this might impact the values of the indicator.

In the high-tech domain, data have been aggregated according to the sectoral approach Knowledge Intensive Activities at NACE Rev. 1.1 - 2 digit level (see list in annex 7, under 21.3) and NACE Rev. 2 - 2 digit level (see list in annex 8, under 21.3).

For more details regarding the correspondence tables, see Eurostat's metadata server RAMON, the section dedicated to Correspondence tables. 

The above mentioned information concerns the Eurobase tables: HTEC_KIA_EMP and HTEC_KIA_EMP2.

Dependent on the data source used. See metadata for the various primary sources under 21.2.

Dependent on the data sources used. See metadata for the various primary sources under 21.2.

EU Member States, candidate countries and EFTA countries. Other countries depend on the primary data sources. (See 21.2 for links to primary sources.)

Dependent on the data sources used. See metadata for the various primary sources under 21.2.

Dependent on the data sources used. See metadata for the various primary sources under 21.2.

Dependent on the data sources used. See metadata for the various primary sources under 21.2.

Dependent on the data sources used. See metadata for the various primary sources under 21.2.

EP/Council Decision No 1608/2003 concerning the production and development of Community statistics on science and technology and Commission Regulation No 753/2004 as regards statistics on science and technology determine the production and development of statistics on high-technology industries and knowledge-based services (in particular with regard to activities, products, contribution to the whole economy, etc.).

Further legal acts exist for the various data sources used. (See 21.2 for links to primary sources.)

Not applicable as this domain has only secondary data.

Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (recital 24 and Article 20(4)) of 11 March 2009 (OJ L 87, p. 164), stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics and the access to those confidential data with due account for technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society.

Dependent on the data sources used. See metadata for the various primary sources under 21.2.

Data are released continuously over the year and has no set dates for the releases.

Not applicable. (See 8.1.)

In line with the Community legal framework and the European Statistics Code of Practice Eurostat disseminates European statistics on Eurostat's website (see item 10 - 'Dissemination format') respecting professional independence and in an objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users are treated equitably. The detailed arrangements are governed by the Eurostat protocol on impartial access to Eurostat data for users.

Data are updated once or twice every year dependent on the periodicity of the data sources used.

News releases on Eurostat's website.

Mainly through the Eurostat publication formats Statistics in Focus, Pocketbook and Statistical Book, which can be downloaded from Eurostat's website.

Eurobase free dissemination database on Eurostat's website.

None as this domain only has secondary data. For micro-data access for the primary sources se related metadata under 21.2.

None.

The high-tech domain uses various other domains and primary sources within official statistics (e.g. structural business statistics, innovation statistics, employment statistics, etc.). Documentation on methodology therefore exist mainly at the various primary sources (see 21.2).

High-tech aggregations for sectors, products and patents can be found under 21.3.

No quality documentation is available for high-tech statistics. The main quality issues relate to the primary data sources.

Quality assurance for high-tech statistics is dependent on the primary sources. (See 21.2 for links to primary sources.)

An overall quality assessment of high-tech statistics is difficult to make, as the statistics depend on the quality of the various primary data sources. (See 21.2 for links to primary sources.)

High-tech database comprises economic, employment and STI data describing high tech manufacturing industries and services, high-tech products and patents. Creating, exploiting and commercializing new technologies have become essential for competitiveness and having a dynamic knowledge based economy. High tech indicators can give a more clear perspective on the level of technological / innovation intensity. Countries, international organizations and various European Commission DGs might make use of High tech statistics. 

Users also have needs in terms of high-tech methodologies and definitions. Two main subjects of these needs have been identified:

• Needs for a definition of medium high-tech products (and medium-low and low)
• Uniform definition of knowledge intensive activities for both industries and services (the classification on knowledge intensive activities was introduced in February 2011)

No survey about the needs and satisfaction about statistics on high-tech has been launched. However, users are thought to be satisfied in general.

For some high-tech data, when being broken down by various dimensions the quality does not apply to the reliability limits set by the primary source. Therefore completeness is difficult to achieve as further breakdowns are difficult.

Statistics on high-tech come from various other domains and primary sources mainly within Eurostat's official statistics (CIS, COMEXT, HRST, LFS, SBS, SES, PATENT and R&D). Therefore, it is evident that if the data source contains errors, the corresponding high-tech data will not be accurate as well. In other words, the estimation of the accuracy of each high-tech sub-domains will be referred to each specific source used. (See links under 21.2.)

Dependent on the data sources used. See metadata for the various primary sources under 21.2.

Dependent on the data sources used. See metadata for the various primary sources under 21.2.

Dependent on the data sources used. See metadata for the various primary sources under 21.2.

Dependent on the data sources used. See metadata for the various primary sources under 21.2.

Dependent on the data sources used. See metadata for the various primary sources under 21.2.

Dependent on the data source used. For each source inconsistencies can occur, for example when data collected fluctuates because of changes in the way of collecting them. Eurostat identifies these changes by flagging the data as a "break in series". For details on these breaks in series, see the metadata of the data source used (see under 21.2).

Comparability of the high-tech sectors/products/patents can be made with the various total populations of the domains of which the data are extracted. (For example employment in high-tech manufacturing or knowledge-intensive services can be compared to the total employment in all sectors.)

Concerning the coherence between the high-tech sub-domains, it can be stated that for compiling data on high-tech, several approaches are used:

• Definition of "high-tech sectors" and "knowledge intensive activities" based on the NACE classification.
• Definition of "high-tech products" based on SITC.
• Definition of "high-tech patents" based on IPC.

Moreover and depending of data availability of the source used, the definition of the manufacturing sector according NACE is done at NACE 2-digit and 3-digit level.

Therefore, comparison is limited between the high-tech sub-domains and should be handled with caution. (See summary table in Annex 1 under 21.3).

There is no additional cost and burden for respondents (national statistical offices) in collecting the data other than those related to the primary data sources. The cost and burden related to the production of high-tech statistics is therefore related to Eurostat's budget.

In other words, high-tech statistics are a good value added of how to use already collected data and require no substantial additional cost and burden for Eurostat other than that of the primary sources.

No data revisions are made at this secondary level as they are made for primary data. The exception is if an error occurs only at the secondary level which is not coming from the primary data (see under 21.2).

As the high-technology domain exploits a variety of Eurostat sources/domains, the status of the data depends on these, as do major revisions. Substantial changes in the methodology are to be commented with the first release of data affected by such changes.

In those cases when an error needs to be corrected in only the high-tech domain and not the primary source, the data will be corrected and the revised data will be uploaded to Eurostat's website. If a substantial change would be made it would be commented in the high-tech metadata.

The domain uses various other domains and sources mainly within Eurostat's official statistics (CIS, COMEXT, HRST, LFS, SBS, SES, PAT and R&D). The source data links are found under 21.2.

Dependent on the data sources used. See metadata for the various primary sources under 21.2.

Dependent on the data sources used. See metadata for the various primary sources under 21.2.

Dependent on the data sources used. See metadata for the various primary sources under 21.2.

Apart from the validation made for the primary data, the high-tech data are as well being validated before being uploaded.

Dependent on the data sources used. See metadata for the various primary sources under 21.2.

Dependent on the data sources used. See metadata for the various primary sources under 21.2.

None.