Innovation, culture and firm size: microentreprises in an outermost región

Authors

  • Teresa González de la Fe Grupo SCITECAN2. Instituto Universitario de Ciencias Políticas y Sociales. Universidad de La Laguna
  • Nuria Hernández Hernández Grupo SCITECAN2. Instituto Universitario de Ciencias Políticas y Sociales. Universidad de La Laguna
  • Madelon van Oostrom Grupo SCITECAN2. Instituto Universitario de Ciencias Políticas y Sociales. Universidad de La Laguna

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3989/arbor.2012.753n1008

Keywords:

Sociology of innovation, microenterprises, triple helix, innovative culture, Canary Islands

Abstract


The analysis of innovation activities, attitudes, beliefs and behaviours of micro companies has few precedents in innovation studies, although this group represents over 95% of all businesses in Spain and the European Union. This paper presents the empirical results of a study on innovation in micro firms, which aims to identify and explain the factors that most affect their ability to innovate, based on the approach of the Triple Helix. Among these factors, next stand out: human, social and relational capital, the ability to absorb foreign knowledge and the existence of an innovative culture that facilitates the attitudes, beliefs and opportunities necessary to innovate in collaborative environments with multiple relationships and interactions. The analysis is completed with a characterization of micro companies, attending to the weight of these factors and some of the innovation barriers that were identified.

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Published

2012-02-28

How to Cite

González de la Fe, T., Hernández Hernández, N., & van Oostrom, M. (2012). Innovation, culture and firm size: microentreprises in an outermost región. Arbor, 188(753), 113–134. https://doi.org/10.3989/arbor.2012.753n1008

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