71 5.6.2 Innovation State activity in the field of innovations is characterised by innovative companies and summary of their performance indicators. According to the Central Statistical Bureau, in the period from 2008 to 2010 in average in Latvia only 30% of all companies were innovative54 (in the reporting period 2006-2008 – 24.3%), while the average EU figure is 52%55. However, innovative business turnover in 2010 amounted to 54.5% of total turnover, demonstrating that the demand for innovative companies’ products or services is higher, providing competitive advantages to innovative companies. Each year the EC is publishing the research of ES Member State innovation result overview Innovation Union Scoreboard Scoreboard56, which is an important source of information on the innovation performance of EU Member States. In a report published in 2013 for the year 2012, Latvia has been ranked 25th among 27 countries surveyed. Analysing this study, it can be concluded that the relatively better performance indicators Latvia has in human resource development, as well as in the funding and support area. Latvian rating has improved also in intellectual property index, as well as in areas that are characterised by the development of innovative enterprises and business cooperation. Still lower are the indices of research environment, company investment and economic impact indicators. In order to improve the innovation performance of Latvian companies, including increased proportion of medium-high and high manufacturing and service sectors in Latvian economic structure, it is necessary to create balanced and mutually complementary support toolkit, which is focused on the creation, dissemination of the usage of this knowledge. Required Actions For the stimulation of innovation activities in the field of ICT, it is necessary to implement the following actions: * support to companies for development of new ICT products and technologies – industrial researches, experimental development and strengthening of industrial property rights; * support to creation and development of new innovative companies – for ICT idea development, business start-up counselling and provision of incubation services, according to the development needs of technology-intensive ideas, and by providing availability of financial instruments for the support of innovative and technologically intensive businesses in early stages of their development; * the development of technology transfer system, promoting entrepreneurship and ICT research sector cooperation in carrying out joint research, as well as support for the purchase of SME research services. 54 An innovative company is the company that during reporting period has introduced at least one innovation: technological (product and process), marketing or organisational innovations 55 2006-2008, Eurostat 56 “Innovation Union Scoreboard” study assesses a wide range of indicators in eight key areas crucial for innovation development – human resources; research environment openness, excellence and attractiveness; funding and support; business investments; cooperation and entrepreneurship; intellectual property; innovation activity; economic effects information_society_development_guidelines_2014_2020.docx; Information Society Development Guidelines 2014-2020