Management Innovation in Nanotechnology Sector: The First Insights in MMxico (Administraciin De La Innovaciin En El Sector De La Nanotecnologga: Primeros Hallazgos En MMxico)

Abstract

Mexico, is an emerging economy that has a great opportunity to take advantage of the nanotechnology, because the Mexican government considers that is one of the key options for the growth of the economy (approach. 1.5 billion of usd per year in 2010), despite its modest number of companies (101) in the Nanotechnology Sector of Mexico (NSM), they are not enough competitive (COM) in nowadays. Additionally, since 2001 the Mexican government has considered the investment in nanotechnology as a strategic niche that should be subject of support, making its first efforts through Universities and Research Centers. If we considered that Management of Innovation (MIN) is a key factor of competitiveness (COM), we could implement it for instance, to improve the relationships between these institutions and the companies of the NSM. Hence, our research question is: What is the conceptual model of the MIN in the companies belonging to the NSM, to get more COM? To achieve this, we propose an exploratory, descriptive, and transversal research based on a documentary study to select the main variables among specialist in NSM practicing the MIN processes. We applied the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) as a qualitative method, to determine variables and a proposal of questionnaire in Likert scale, that shall be applied during May-Dec. 2017 to the total main managers of NSM companies. As a quantitative methods shall be applied are: Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) as a reduction of variables method, Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) as a predictive method, Cluster Analysis (CAN) to identify the representatives groups in the practice of MIN, and finally, Partial Least Squares regression (PLS) to disclose the underlying factors for the conceptual model. As a conclusion at this stage, we show the conceptual model based on 3 factors (MIN, COM, NSM) and 29 variables with their indicators.