[ D] The survey is representative for the production sector (mining, manufacturing, energy and water supply) as well as for a number ofservice sectors (wholesale trade, transport, postal services, telecommunications, financial services, computer services and software, technical services, consulting, other firm-related services, media and disposal). Until the survey year, construction, retail trade, real estate and renting services were also part of the target sectors. The survey targets enterprises located in Germany with 5 or more employees. About 6,000 firms respond to the written questionnaire every year. Additionally, about 4,500 firms are contacted by telephone every year and interviewed about key indicators of innovation activity ("non-response-analysis"). Values for innovation activity for individual sectors, size classes, and West and East Germany are calculated from the data. From the 2009 survey on, sampling and reporting has been adapted to the new industry classification system (NACE rev. 2.0).
The innovation survey alternates on a yearly basis between two forms. The "long survey" is carried out in odd-numbered years and includes extra questions on circumstances that are relevant to innovation, such as obstacles to innovation, co-operation, intellectual property rights, innovation sources, effects of innovation, public funding of innovation, methods of innovation management. The "short survey", in even-numbered years, only asks questions related to the core innovation indicators.
