Territorial innovation systems and strategies of collective efficiency: The case of Tagus Valley agro-food complex
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to show the relevance of territorial innovation systems approach for non-central regions’ development strategies. The research made allowed to identify actions of collective efficiency to strengthen endogenous capacity for regional innovation, and also to detect some institutional weaknesses that inhibit the innovation dynamics in a particular rural region (Tagus Valley).
Design/methodology/approach
The research followed an interpretive case study, of explanatory type. Data collecting method comprised semi-structured face-to-face interviews with business agents and local government members, direct observation of innovation activities and documentary analysis. Statistical methods to analyse the firms’ innovation behaviour, as well as owners and managers’ perceptions, were also used in order to improve the trustworthiness of the research.
Findings
The results show that innovation is positively associated to a diverse set of institutional factors that shape a territorially embedded innovation system, in which the firms’ innovation activity is chiefly based on localized learning processes. Moreover, a path of smart and creative diversification area is detected, but there are substantial differences between firms belonging to agro-food supply chain. While food industries and wineries show very interesting levels of investment in innovation activities and external knowledge synergies, farmers/producers depend greatly from producers’ organizations.
Research limitations/implications
Given the absence of generalizability and some speculative argumentation, further research needs to be done, especially about the critical role of higher education institutions to promote innovation.
Practical implications
The paper provides empirical insights about the role of actors belonging to the governance layer inherent to the territorial innovation system in discussion.
Originality/value
The paper fulfils an identified need to systematize institutional factors able to affect non-central regions innovation.
Keywords
Citation
Oliveira, P.M. and Natário, M.M. (2016), "Territorial innovation systems and strategies of collective efficiency: The case of Tagus Valley agro-food complex", European Journal of Innovation Management, Vol. 19 No. 3, pp. 362-382. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJIM-07-2014-0072
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited