Empirical analysis of the innovation phenomena in the sports equipment industry

This article presents the results of a survey conducted in 108 firms in the French sports industry. The inquiry was based on three main themes: research & development, innovation and adoption of new materials. The study has shown a link between the product's life cycle and the structure of the industry. In fact the various levels of achievements reached by sports products have generated various structures among the sectors already mentioned. Slightly declining sectors, like skiing or yachting, are rather concentrated and tend to focus on process innovations. Fast expanding sectors, like snowboard, mountain bike and cycling, are rather atomized and innovate much more on new product and materials.