Strenghtening Innovation in Developing Countries

In spite of the variety of studies regarding innovation management questions, there is still a lack of studies concerning the structuring of the innovation management activity in developing countries’ firms. In parallel, there is an increasing number of studies arguing that these firms have no innovative capabilities. Traditionally, however, the metrics used for analysing the innovative capabilities of firms of this nature, such as patents and research and development investments, are incapable of understanding how the innovation process occurs. This study seeks to contribute with the filling of these existing gaps. In this sense, it suggests a total innovation management system focused on the reality of developing countries’ firms, which gives rise to a group of non-conventional indicators to examine the technological capabilities, such as cadence and projects’ mix, here presented and discussed.In spite of the variety of studies regarding innovation management questions, there is still a lack of studies concerning the structuring of the innovation management activity in developing countries’ firms. In parallel, there is an increasing number of studies arguing that these firms have no innovative capabilities. Traditionally, however, the metrics used for analysing the innovative capabilities of firms of this nature, such as patents and research and development investments, are incapable of understanding how the innovation process occurs. This study seeks to contribute with the filling of these existing gaps. In this sense, it suggests a total innovation management system focused on the reality of developing countries’ firms, which gives rise to a group of non-conventional indicators to examine the technological capabilities, such as cadence and projects’ mix, here presented and discussed.In spite of the variety of studies regarding innovation management questions, there is still a lack of studies concerning the structuring of the innovation management activity in developing countries’ firms. In parallel, there is an increasing number of studies arguing that these firms have no innovative capabilities. Traditionally, however, the metrics used for analysing the innovative capabilities of firms of this nature, such as patents and research and development investments, are incapable of understanding how the innovation process occurs. This study seeks to contribute with the filling of these existing gaps. In this sense, it suggests a total innovation management system focused on the reality of developing countries’ firms, which gives rise to a group of non-conventional indicators to examine the technological capabilities, such as cadence and projects’ mix, here presented and discussed

Uma abordagem evolucionária para a análise de casos de atividade de inovação no Brasil

This article offers an alternative analysis to the innovative to the innovative activity in Brazilian industry. Based on the Evolutionnary Theory of Technical Change, it will be proposed a specifc approach to analyse enterprises that are defficient on R&D, though they do find solutions to their technical problems. Considering the innovative process as a problem solving activity, it is possible to visualize a large spectrum of sectors and firms that may have some influence over the technology in use. To illustrate this approach, it will be used two Brazilian industries: cement and leather footware.This article offers an alternative analysis to the innovative to the innovative activity in Brazilian industry. Based on the Evolutionnary Theory of Technical Change, it will be proposed a specifc approach to analyse enterprises that are defficient on R&D, though they do find solutions to their technical problems. Considering the innovative process as a problem solving activity, it is possible to visualize a large spectrum of sectors and firms that may have some influence over the technology in use. To illustrate this approach, it will be used two Brazilian industries: cement and leather footware

Technological Capability and Firm Performance

This research aims to investigate the relationship between investments in technological capability and economic performance in Brazilian firms. Based on economic development theory and on developed countries history, it is assumed that this relationship is positive. Through key indicators, 133 Brazilian firms have been analyzed. Given the economic circumstances of an emerging economy, which the majority of businesses are primarily based on low and medium-low-technology industries, it is not possible to affirm the existence of a positive relation between technological capability and firm performance. There are other elements that allow firms to achieve such results. Firms of lower technological intensity industries performed above average in the economic performance indicators, adversely, they invested below average in technological capability. These findings do not diminish the merit of firms’ and country’s success. They in fact confirm a historical tradition of a country that concentrates its efforts on basic industries

Technological Interfaces of the Brazilian Shipbuilding and Offshore Industry

The recent challenges of the Brazilian naval and offshore industry have generated a unique opportunity for studies on technological innovation and economic development. This paper presents the recent developments and future prospects of this industry under the theoretical framework of ‘technological interfaces’. Technological interfaces are defined as the thread of knowledge and technology necessary for establishing a transaction between two or more agents. It is both a theoretical construct and a tool for better understanding industrial coherence and dynamics. The development project of ship and platform construction in Brazil, unveils a potential dynamic similar to large national projects, such as the U.S. space project in the 50s. By establishing scientific parameters of analysis for the study, it is possible to generate a broader diagnosis of the technological interface matrix of the industry, but mainly it is possible to map the framework of operational gaps and the needs for technical-scientific development

Inovação em serviços no paradigma da economia do aprendizado : a pertinência de uma dimensão espacial na abordagem dos sistemas de inovação

A análise do processo de inovação em serviços é recente na literatura, onde este foi tradicionalmente considerado um processo decorrente das inovações engendradas na indústria. Destacam-se, nesta perspectiva, três abordagens: a tecnicista, baseada nos serviços, e a integradora. Esta última, em especial, destaca-se pela tentativa de estabelecer uma teoria única da inovação, que contemple tanto a indústria quanto os serviços, constituindo as conceituações necessárias para diferenciar suas especificidades. Neste sentido, este artigo procura investigar as bases teóricas para a aplicação da abordagem dos sistemas de inovação sobre o processo de inovação em serviços e, em especial, a consideração de uma dimensão espacial, local ou regional, a ser considerada em futuras investigações empíricas. Nossas considerações apontam na direção da pertinência deste enfoque, uma vez que o processo de aprendizagem, determinante do processo de inovação sob o novo paradigma, possui caráter delimitado geográfica, cultural e setorialmente, que está na fonte das vantagens competitivas das organizações. _________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTThe analysis of innovation in services is recent in literature once this kind of innovation has for long been considered as a byproduct from innovation in manufacturing. Three approaches deserve more attention under this perspective: the technicist, the service-based and the integrated. The latter attempts to establish a single theory of innovation for manufacturing and services, including the necessary conceptualizing to distinguish their specificity. In this sense, this paper aims at investigating theoretical foundations for the application of the innovation systems approach to services, including a spatial, local or regional dimension in future empirical studies. The paper argues for the relevance of this approach once the learning process, decisive for the innovation process in the realm of the new paradigm, is related to geographical, cultural and sectoral boundaries that provide a source for competitive advantage for the organizations

Technological intensity and innovation capability in industrial firms

Purpose – Over time, technological intensity has been used as a proxy for innovation capability of firms in an industrial sector. However, not only firms belonging to the stratum of high technological intensity are able to innovate. Therefore, this study aims to explore a potential association between technological intensity and innovation capability in firms from different industrial sectors, using the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)’s classification and the components of innovation capability proposed by Zawislak et al. (2012, 2013). Design/methodology/approach – The authors conducted an exploratory research with four case studies focusing on the innovation capability of Brazilian firms. Findings – The results show that the four firms, each belonging to one stratum of technological intensity, have innovation capability, and the differences regarding this feature can be explained by the balance and development of all firms’ capabilities (technological, operational, managerial and transactional). Originality/value – In the literature, studies that relate technological intensity and innovation capability are scarce. Therefore, the originality of this research is to relate these two concepts. The most important is that firms can be innovative regardless of their stratum of technological intensity, which shows the importance of other capabilities to ensure the innovation’s success

Universities’ Intellectual Property: Path for Innovation or Patent Competition?

Technological innovation is represented by the conversion of knowledge into new products and processes which, when commercialized, generate wealth. In relations with companies, universities’ role is to develop scientific knowledge, fostering industry’s R&D activities. This article proposes an analysis of the technology transfer process performed by public universities in Brazil. Results demonstrate that universities are facing difficulties in requesting and licensing patents based on scientific results, due to lack of commercial contact with companies and their limitations in adapting available technologies. The increase in scientific output is not being effectively transformed into new technologies for products and services, exposing the necessity for new policies to approach university-industry relations. For universities, this may mean rethinking the role of patents in the technology transfer process, such as increasing co-authorship with companies and have companies support technological research within the university, instead of investing in legal protection, distant from market needs

Technological Capability's Predictor Variables

The aim of this study was to identify the factors that influence in configuration of the technological capability of companies in sectors with medium-low technological intensity. To achieve the goal proposed in this article a survey was carried out. Based on the framework developed by Lall (1992) which classifies firms in basic, intermediate and advanced level of technological capability; it was found that the predominant technological capability is intermediate, with 83.7% of respondent companies (plastics companies in Brazil). It is believed that the main contribution of this study is the finding that the dependent variable named “Technological Capability” can be explained at a rate of 65% by six variables: development of new processes; selection of the best equipment supplier; sales of internally developed new technology to third parties; design and manufacture of equipment; study of the work methods and perform inventory control; and improvement of product quality

Innovation Capabilities and the role of Strategic Intelligence

In rapidly changing environments, innovation allows firms to maintain their market competitiveness. A firm with well-developed innovation capabilities stands a better chance to sustain its competitiveness. Additionally, strategic intelligence practices will also contribute to positive results, as a firm\u27s economic sustainability depends on installed processes to obtain informational elements coming from the external environment to support its decision-making process. In this way, innovation often benefits from intelligence processes, especially when it provides new knowledge, monitors technological trajectories, and expands understanding of the external environment. To survive in a competitive market a firm needs innovation capabilities and strategic intelligence practices, but how are they related? Firms that are proactive in terms of their strategic intelligence practices have more developed innovation capabilities when compared to those reactive ones? This study aims to identify whether firms with activities associated with the strategic intelligence process differ in terms of their innovation capability level, verifying differences when comparing reactive and proactive groups. We analyzed secondary data of 1,331 Brazilian manufacturing firms. From the analysis, we have identified that development, operations and management capabilities are higher in those firms where there are strategic intelligence practices in place