Impacto de los SEIC sobre la innovación en las microempresas fabricantes de máquinas-herramienta del País Vasco

Abstract

Innovation is a competitive and unavoidable strategy in the current economic context. Since the machine-tool sector has a classical industrial component and a more recent and border one by incorporating transversal innovation technologies (nanotechnologies, new materials etc.), it is representative for the innovative tension as a source of competitiveness. A focus on microenterprises allows us to look at this issue from an unusual perspective, given that most of the studies focused upon medium to large companies. As agents related to innovation, the KIBS can have a positive impact on the innovative strategy of micro firms, especially considering their own limitations, derived mainly from its small dimension. This work includes the innovative activity of a group of microenterprises in the machine-tool sector in the Basque Autonomous Community, where the sector is of considerable importance and the impact of KIBS in this respect can be noticed by using quantitative and qualitative research methodologies.