[By NBC-1TV H. J Yook]The world's most innovative companies expect to grow by more than 60% over the next five years, adding a total of more than US$250 billion in new revenues as a result of sophisticated approaches to innovation in all areas of their operations.

A new PwC study, Breakthrough Innovation and Growth--your $500 million opportunity, released here at a meeting of the World Economic Forum, found a direct correlation between excellence in innovation and superior revenue growth. According to the study, the top 20% of innovators worldwide say their growth rate over the next five years will be double the global average and three times higher than that of the least innovative companies.

Companies are fundamentally changing the way they innovate, the study found. Innovation has moved beyond products and services and now regularly encompasses business models, operating systems and customer experience. Additionally, collaboration with both internal and external partners has become vital to innovation efforts.

Said David Percival, PwC's Global Client Innovation Leader:

“Innovation has gone mainstream. Five years ago, expansion into China was seen as the most powerful source of growth for just about every business. Now, companies see that innovation presents them with greatest potential for growth.”

While innovation was once thought to be the province of technology and consumer goods companies in developed economies, it has now become a key driver of growth for companies regardless of sector or geography. The top tier of innovators identified in the study come from a diverse range of sectors from healthcare to automotive to financial services, and from India, to the Netherlands and Brazil.

Said Rob Shelton, PwC's Global Innovation Strategy Leader:

“Business leaders must understand that there are already innovation pioneers in their industry and around the world. Leaders must be ready to step up to disruptive challenges from their more innovative competitors.”