Fostering Open Collaborative Innovation for Micro and Small Technology-Based Firms in Brazil

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.