Key findings about innovation.

• Author: Marshall, Jeffrey
• Position: BusinessBRIEFS - Brief Article

* Seventy-four percent of the executives surveyed said that their companies will increase spending on innovation in 2005, up from 64 percent in 2004.

* Almost 90 percent of the executives surveyed said that generating organic growth through innovation has become essential for success in their industry.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

* Less than half of the executives surveyed said that they were satisfied with the financial returns on their investments in innovation.

* Executives ranked Apple, 3M, GE, Microsoft and Sony as the most...