Tech Index 2022: Methodology

Methodology and respondent profile

DLA Piper commissioned Coleman Parkes Research to canvass views of European tech companies to assess where they see opportunities for growth and what challenges they see standing in their way. Despite an increasingly uncertain economic and geo-political environment, the European tech sector remains remarkably optimistic and clearly focused on innovating their way through tough market conditions.

Respondent base and methodology

350 interviews were conducted online (supplemented by telephone research where necessary) in April and May 2022 with executives in key technology businesses ranging from EUR10 million to more than EUR10 billion in revenue. Soundings were also taken from members of the investment community and policymakers focused on the tech sector. All interviews were carried out in the respondent’s local language.

Tech Index methodology

The results have been collated and weighted to provide DLA Piper’s Tech Index score. This is based on a diffusion index that weights the percentage of respondents’ answers that are positive, negative and neutral, with the results presented as a scorecard next to each of the business areas monitored and an overall index.

The use of Kirlian photography

All the images included in the report are unique, and specifically taken for the purposes of this report. We have used Kirlian photography to capture the coronal discharges of an object resulting in the striking imagery you see throughout the report. By exposing an object to high voltage current inside the Kirlian machine, an electrical discharge is produced. This is then captured through image or film. An object of any material that conducts electricity can be used inside the machine.

How do we get the score?

(Please note that due to rounding, percentages may not always appear to add up to 100%.)

The results of the survey have been collated and weighted to provide DLA Piper’s Tech Index score.

This is based on a diffusion index which weights the percentage of respondents’ answers that are positive, negative and neutral, with the results presented as a scorecard next to each of the areas monitored. The scorecard is designed to demonstrate degrees of positive feedback, where 50 represents a neutral score, 100 represents the maximum positive score and 0 represents an entirely negative score. This score then gives an overall view of the sentiment of the respondents, and therefore the Index.

Respondents were also invited to consider the specific areas within their industry that offered the greatest opportunity for growth. A score for each of the first eight technology index questions (focused on regulation, tax, financing, talent and IP) was generated using the calculation below.

INDEX = (P1*1) + (P2*0.5) + (P3*0)

P1 = Percentage of answers that reported an improvement.

P2 = Percentage of answers that reported no change.

P3 = Percentage of answers that reported a deterioration.

Thus, if 100 percent of the panel reported an improvement the index would be 100. If 100 percent reported deterioration, then the index would be zero. If 100 percent of the panel saw no change the index would be 50 (P2 * 0.5). Therefore, an index reading of 50 means that the variable is unchanged, a number over 50 indicates an improvement, while anything below 50 suggests a decline. The higher above 50 the index is, the stronger the sentiment, for example, a reading of 55 points to a stronger increase in a variable than a reading of 52.5.

As each factor (regulation, tax, financing, talent and IP) has a different level of impact upon the growth of the technology sector, once each individual score has been calculated, the following weighting is applied:

Regulatory = (10% + 10%) 20%
Tax = (10% + 10%) 20%
Financing = (15% + 10%) 25%
Talent = 10%
IP = 25%