The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has released the UK Innovation Adoption and Diffusion Survey 2025, the first of its kind in the country. With responses from over 4,500 organisations, the survey explores how businesses are adopting and sharing new technologies — and what that means for productivity and growth.
What it means for Omagh and surrounding areas
For local businesses across Omagh and the wider region, the findings highlight both challenges and opportunities. While larger companies lead the way in adopting new technologies, micro and small enterprises — which make up much of our local economy — are further behind. Only 42% of Northern Ireland businesses reported adopting at least one innovative technology, compared to 66% in the North East of England.
This shows a clear need for more targeted support, advice, and investment to help smaller firms in areas like Omagh embrace innovation and compete on a national and global scale.
Key adoption trends
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56% of UK businesses have adopted at least one new technology.
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Remote working systems (24%), future telecoms (18%), and sustainable business practices (16%) are most popular.
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Barriers include regulation (19%), data privacy concerns (17%), and integration challenges (16%).
Technology diffusion
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24% of businesses are actively spreading technologies to others.
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Larger organisations and sectors like Information & Communication are leading the way.
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Locally, this signals an opportunity for collaboration between businesses, colleges, and support networks to build skills and share resources.
Why it matters for local business
Adopting and sharing innovation isn’t just about staying up to date — it’s about driving productivity, cutting costs, and creating sustainable growth. For Omagh businesses, investing in skills, leadership, and the right technology can make a real difference in long-term competitiveness.
👉 To explore the full survey findings, read the UK innovation diffusion and adoption survey report
