Theoretical Approaches, Supporting Actors and their Roles in the Innovation Literature: A Systematic Review

Abstract

This study aimed to identify how innovation support organizations are studied, as well as the influence of these organizations on the development of innovation. Academic productions were analyzed using Social Network Analysis (SNA) and Correspondence Analysis techniques. Results indicate that studies on support organizations and innovative capacity are mainly based on the approaches of Innovation Systems, Networks, Cluster Theory, and Institutional Theory, with emphasis on the interactions between different actors. The analysis revealed the importance of public organizations for the institutional security necessary for the development of innovation. Thus, such organizations contribute mainly by providing a favorable institutional environment for achieving inter-firm relationships, enabling companies to expand external sources of resources and knowledge by themselves. Business associations play an important role in the intermediation of these relationships. In addition, other support organizations contribute to the provision of resources, mainly knowledge, which are important for the development of innovation and favor obtaining and sustaining a competitive advantage if combined with those already held by the firm.