Abstract
Innovation happens as a combination or a result of various phenomena (i.e. entrepreneurship, business environment, interactions, etc.); it is almost impossible for a single discipline to explain it. Given that there are many facets to explore to cover all aspects of innovation, the present paper approaches this theme from the sociological perspective. Innovation is not a solitary, but an interactive phenomenon, which requires firms to cooperate to reach innovation sources, new processes and technologies. As a theoretical reference, this paper develops the argument of the importance of the firms’ interaction linkages and connections and their influence on the efficiency of the innovation system. So, in this context, the authors decided to adopt the survey method to examine whether or not interaction linkages have an impact on micro and small technology-based firms’ innovativeness in Brazil. The findings showed that interactions between firms and other innovation agents such as universities, research centres, financial institutions and other partners is essential for the development of open, collaborative innovation activities and have a direct impact on the level of innovativeness. Finally, this paper concludes that innovation is a result of the combination of various interaction linkages and not an isolated phenomenon restricted to the firm. As such, it may be appropriately fostered.
Highlights
In the last three decades, globalization has increasingly prompted firms and the whole economy to operate under pressure for new products and services
The findings showed that interactions between firms and other innovation agents such as universities, research centres, financial institutions and other partners is essential for the development of open, collaborative innovation activities and have a direct impact on the level of innovativeness
At macro-level, considering the whole economy, innovation can be generated by a wide range of different agents such as universities and research centres; firms have to acquire new capabilities to manage a network of interactions with different actors and to become responsible enough to manage information and knowledge retained by a variety of different actors (European Commission, 2004)
Summary
In the last three decades, globalization has increasingly prompted firms and the whole economy to operate under pressure for new products and services. Companies must shift from an isolated organizational strategy to a more open mindset, which requires them to deal with different economic agents in different environments (local, national and even global) This new scenario of competition has forced firms to develop products/services involving an increasing amount of knowledge-intensive activities. These activities range from product design, management procedures and marketing strategies to new interaction linkages between firms and economic agents such as universities, research centres and government. These agents can become key elements to the new sustainable innovation mode of production. Successful strategies facilitating innovation initiatives and encouraging environment for fostering entrepreneurship and innovation, include an understanding of the conjunction of some actors working together collaboratively, creating an interactive behaviour for innovation inducing climate
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