The Scottish Technology Industry Survey is an annual measure of the digital technologies industry’s health and performance during the last year, and its expected development during the current year. The 2018 survey also included an analysis of the types of innovation undertaken in Scotland, levels of awareness of different parts of the innovation ecosystem, and the parts that companies have actually used or would consider using in the future. It also looked at what companies are doing to address the gender gap, and the impact of these actions. This paper provides further analysis of the survey results in relation to innovation systems and gender issues. It includes commentary highlighting key insights and puts the results into a broader cross-industry and international perspective.
Methods
The Scottish Technology Industry Survey 2018 was conducted between 4 January and 9 February 2018 through an online survey platform. The survey received 205 responses, of which 171 were selected for analysis. The respondents included both ScotlandIS members and non-members. The survey also involved additional desk research and the analysis of official statistics.
Findings
The survey found that the digital technologies industry is one of the most innovative sectors in Scotland. Expenditure on research and development (R&D) performed within businesses (BERD) at current prices was £155,817,000 in 2016, representing 14.5% of the total BERD in Scotland. Computer programming and information services activities and software development account for about one quarter each of the information and communication sector’s BERD. R&D expenditure in the digital technologies industry also grew particularly quickly over the last few years. Between 2009 and 2016, BERD in the information and communication sector grew by 75%, compared to 49% in the “professional, scientific and technical activities” sector and 25% in the manufacturing sector. This data shows that the digital technologies industry is a very innovative sector compared with other parts of the Scottish economy. However, the comparison with digital technologies sectors in other countries shows that Scotland would need to invest considerably more in innovation to rank amongst the top tier countries in the EU and beyond. In relation to the gender gap, the proportion of women in digitally focused roles was found to be 18% as opposed to 48% in the workforce as a whole and 39% in other skilled occupations. This gender gap has remained largely stable over the last years. The most commonly taken step to attract more women is to offer flexible working patterns that are compatible with child care commitments – 55% have tried this measure and found that it helps. Around 25% of responding companies reported providing female role models for engagement with schools and universities and/or support initiatives like Scotland Women in Technology (SWiT) or Girl Geeks. The provision of return-to-work training for women after a career break was the least used method of addressing the gender gap. This form of support was more likely to be offered by larger companies.
Cookies help Scottish Enterprise (“SE”, “us” or “we”) to provide you with a good experience when you browse our website and also allow us to improve our website. We assume that you are happy to receive all the cookies in the categories that you elect to allow, or which are strictly necessary for the operation of our website. You can change your cookie settings at any time.
Strictly necessary cookies
These are cookies that are required for the operation of our website. They include, for example, cookies that enable you to log into secure areas of our website.
Cookie name
Purpose
Expiry
DS_SEC_Necessary_AllowedCookies
This cookie is used to record your preferences in regard to accepting marketing, performance or functionality cookies across the site.
1 year
se_session
This cookie is used to provide secure access to SE website features such as address lookup and form validation/submissions.
When browser is closed
Performance and analytics cookies
They allow us to recognise and count the number of visitors and to see how visitors move around our website when they are using it. This helps us to improve the way our website works, for example, by ensuring that users are finding what they are looking for easily.
Third party service
Purpose
Where to find out more
Google Analytics
Google Analytics helps us analyse the behaviour of users on our site, such as which pages they view, how long they spend on each page, and which elements they interact with.
Hotjar helps us analyse the behaviour of users on our site by collating data into heatmaps, scrollmaps and other visual representations. It also allows us to add short surveys to the site.
These cookies record your visit to our website, the pages you have visited and the links you have followed. We will use this information to make our website and the advertising displayed on it more relevant to your interests. We may also share this information with third parties for this purpose.
Third party service
Purpose
Where to find out more
Google Ads
By consenting to advertising we will share personal data with Google Ads to perform ad measurement services on our behalf, and that we obtain customer consent for such sharing and use where legally required. Google Ads help us to show pay per click ads in Google search results. These cookies help us track who comes to our site through these ads, so we know how successful they are. By granting permission for marketing cookies, you are confirming that you are happy to be tracked from our sites and receive targeted marketing based on your Google account details.
The LinkedIn Insight Tag helps us analyse the behaviour of visitors to our site who have come through LinkedIn adverts, and also helps us target advertising on LinkedIn.
Our website includes embedded videos from YouTube using YouTube’s Privacy-Enhanced Mode. This means YouTube will not store information or set cookies unless you play the video. When you press play, YouTube may set cookies on your device and collect information about your activity, which may be linked to your Google account if you are signed in. These cookies are managed by YouTube and are subject to Google’s Privacy Policy.
SE sometimes embeds photos and video content from websites such as YouTube and Flickr. As a result, when you visit a page with content embedded from, for example, YouTube or Flickr, you may be presented with cookies from these websites. SE does not control the dissemination of these cookies. You should check the relevant third party website for more information about these.
SE will not use cookies to collect personally identifiable information about you. However, if you wish to restrict or block the cookies which are set by SE websites, or any third party websites, you can do this through your browser settings. The Help function within your browser should tell you how.
Alternatively, you may wish to visit the About Cookies website, which contains comprehensive information about cookies and how to restrict or delete cookies on a wide variety of browsers.
Please be aware that restricting cookies may impact on the functionality of the SE website.
SE and our other websites use a number of suppliers who set cookies on our behalf in order to deliver the services that they are providing. We are constantly reviewing our use of cookies and, as such, this cookies policy will be regularly renewed to include up to date information about the cookies used by our suppliers. We would highly recommend that you check this page on a regular basis.
Further information
Our website carries embedded ‘share’ buttons to enable users of the site to easily share articles with their friends through a number of popular social networks. These sites may set a cookie when you are also logged in to their service. Scottish Enterprise does not control the dissemination of these cookies and you should check the relevant third party website for more information about these.
Similarly, Scottish Enterprise sometimes embeds photos and video content from websites such as YouTube and Flickr. As a result, when you visit a page with content embedded from, for example, YouTube or Flickr, you may be presented with cookies from these websites. Scottish Enterprise does not control the dissemination of these cookies. Again, you should check the relevant third party website for more information about these.
Scottish Enterprise will not use cookies to collect personally identifiable information about you. However, if you wish to restrict or block the cookies which are set by Scottish Enterprise websites, or any third party websites, you can do this through your browser settings. The Help function within your browser should tell you how.
Alternatively, you may wish to visit the About cookies opens in a new window website, which contains comprehensive information about cookies and how to restrict or delete cookies on a wide variety of browsers.
Please be aware that restricting cookies may impact on the functionality of the Scottish Enterprise website.
Scottish Enterprise and our other websites use a number of suppliers who set cookies on our behalf in order to deliver the services that they are providing. We are constantly reviewing our use of cookies and, as such, this cookies policy will be regularly renewed to include up to date information about the cookies used by our suppliers. We would highly recommend that you check this page on a regular basis.