High Technology, Productivity and Networks: A Systemic Approach to SME Development

by Mario Davide Parrilli, Patrizio Bianchi, Roger Sugden

Overview

Small and medium firms play an important part in the global economy, but technological progress in telecommunications and infrastructure, coupled with the liberalization of a number of international organizations, has introduced a number of new competitors to existing SMEs. Their stability is jeopardized, both in economic and social terms.

The current risk of a progressive weakening of local economies raises questions about the competitive role and potential of SMEs in global markets. This book analyses strategic aspects of SME development that may help to promote growth within their economies: high-tech development, productivity increase in traditional enterprises, and strengthening of networks. The book contains contributions from a variety of international experts, offering a comprehensive view of the development of particular sectors, territories, and institutions, and, more specifically, providing a systemic and compact approach to analysing and promoting the development process in specific locations and countries.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780230266773
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan
Publication date:	04/30/2008
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

JUSTO AGUILAR Full Professor and Director of the Institute for Research in Economic Sciences, University of Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica
PABLO ANGELELLI Expert, Division on Small and Medium Enterprises, Inter-American Development Bank, Washington, USA
MARI JOSE ARANGUREN Director, Department of Economics, University of Deusto and Orkestra Institute of Competitiveness and Development, San Sebastian, Spain
DAVID AUDRETSCH Full Professor, University of Indiana, USA; Director of Entrepreneurship, Growth and Public Policy, Max Planck Institute of Economics, Jena, Germany
NICOLA BELLINI Full Professor, University School Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
MARIA CALLEJON Full Professor, University of Barcelona, Spain; Director of SME Policies, Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade, Spain
LISA DE PROPIS Senior Lecturer, Institute for Economic Development Policy, University of Birmingham, UK
MARCO DI TOMMASO Associate Professor, Faculty of Economics, University of Ferrara, Italy
MAIKOL ELIZONDO Research Fellow, Institute for Research in Economic Sciences, University of Costa Rica, Costa Rica
JOAO FURTADO Full Professor, Polytechnic School, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
RENATO GARCIA Associate Professor, Polytechnic School, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
HUGO KANTIS Full Professor, University of General Sarmiento, Buenos Aires, Argentina
PETER KNORRINGA Associate Professor, Institute of Social Studies, The Hague, The Netherlands
CARLO PIETROBELLI Full Professor, University of Rome Three, Rome, Italy
ROBERTA RABELLOTTI Associate Professor, University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy
LAURA RAMACIOTTI Associate Professor, Faculty of Economics, University of Ferrara, Italy
STUART SCHWEITZER Full Professor, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
WILSON SUZIGAN Full Professor, University of Campinas, Brazil

Table of Contents

List of Tables     vii
List of Figures     ix
List of Contributors     xi
Foreword     xiii
Introduction
Hi-tech Development, Productivity Increases and Networking: A Systemic Approach to the Development of Small and Medium Enterprises   Mario Davide Parrilli     3
Hi-tech Promotion
The Regional Innovation System in Emilia-Romagna   Laura Ramaciotti     35
Small and Medium-Sized Firms in High-Technology Industries: The Experience of Biotechnology Firms in the United States   Stuart O. Schweitzer   Marco R. Di Tommaso     57
The Start-up Process of Knowledge-based Companies in Latin America   Hugo Kantis   Pablo Angelelli     71
Productivity Increases
Business Support Services: A Conceptual Framework and Some Interesting Practices   Nicola Bellini     95
Entrepreneurship, Small Firms and Self-employment   David Audretsch   Maria Callejon   Mari Jose Aranguren     117
Competitiveness Based on Low Production Costs or on High Specialization and Productivity: The Case of SMEs in Costa Rica   Justo Aguilar   Maikol Elizondo     138
Networking
Trust and Social Capital in Glo-cal Networks   Lisa De Propris     155
Local and Global Linkages of Small and MediumEnterprises in Local Production Systems in Brazil   Wilson Suzigan   Renato Garcia   Joao Furtado     175
Industrial Cluster Trajectories and Opportunities for Endogenous Upgrading in Developing Countries   Peter Knorringa     193
A Sectoral Approach to Policies for Clusters and Value Chains in Latin America   Carlo Pietrobelli   Roberta Rabellotti     209
Conclusions
Conclusions   Patrizio Bianchi     233
Notes     240
Index     247