Abstract
Goal: This article aims to diagnose the profile, strategies, and innovation practices adopted by the information technology companies of a Regional Innovation Systems (RIS).
 Design/ Methodology/ Approach: This study was carried out with 19 small and medium companies from a RIS in the state of Paraná, where we collect data relating to the infrastructure and investments in R&D, types of innovation projects, impact on revenue, activities of innovation, innovation protection methods, and information sources used by companies.
 Results: The results showed that: companies with higher investments in R&D, which generate innovative products and patents, have a higher financial return; the generation of patents is incipient among the companies surveyed; product process and organizational innovation are the main innovation activities carried out; there is some difficulty in establishing external partnerships for the development of innovation, especially with universities; customers, users, and the internet are the primary sources of information used by companies.
 Limitation of the investigation: With respect to research limitations, we point out that our research sample is limited to 19 companies. Thus, for the results to be generalized, a larger sample is recommended.
 Practical implications: The article showed that the launch of innovative products on the market has positive effects on the financial performance of companies due to increased sales.
 Originality/ Value: This paper offers a contribution to contextual studies of innovation in RIS. In addition, it presents an innovation profile of the technology companies of an RIS. These results can be used to compare and evaluate the innovation evolution in technology companies with other sectors and other RIS, or provide an indicator for the development of innovation policies for a region.
Highlights
In the current business context, innovation has become an imperative for competitiveness
This paper offers a contribution to contextual studies of innovation in Regional Innovation Systems (RIS)
The main objective was to diagnose the profile, some of the innovation strategies, and practices adopted by the information technology companies that are part of an RIS
Summary
In the current business context, innovation has become an imperative for competitiveness. A reconfiguration in the innovation and business model of companies, guided mainly by the more interaction of consumers, suppliers, and other partners in the development of products and innovation processes In this sense, the business has been guided by the assimilation and use of external knowledge, especially through partnerships, collaborative research networks, alliances, and technological cooperation with universities (Bueno and Balestrin, 2012). Corroborating, other approaches highlight that an innovation system must be seen as an evolutionary, non-linear, interactive, and gradual process between the company and the external environment This requires collaboration, synergy, intensive communication between multiple institutional agents, and the ability to create some knowledge flow through a network of partnerships (Rodrigues et al, 2013; Todtling and Trippl, 2005; Van Mierlo et al, 2010; Leydesdorff and Fritsch, 2006; Padilla-Pérez and Gaudin, 2014). Brazilian Journal of Operations & Production Management, Vol 17, No 3, e2020997, 2020
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Brazilian Journal of Operations & Production Management
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
