Innovation diagnosis in technology companies of a regional innovation system

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.