Industrial districts and innovation: the portuguese moulds sector

Abstract

The aim of this study was to understand the mechanisms for knowledge acquisition, and its transformation in innovative output, based on detailed observation of Portuguese firms of the moulds industrial sector. Emphasis was put on the study of interactions between several external or internal elements of the system. The two main research questions were: 1) If innovation reflects learning then how do firms learn how do firms transpose learning to artefacts and are able to innovate? What are the reasons for the innovative performance of the moulds sector in Portugal? The study resulted in the creation and proposal of an observation model of the moulds sector, relative to the type of relations that exist between the firms and between firms and other institutions, which permits systematization and generalisation in the analysis of the innovative dynamics of this sector. The innovative performance of the sector is also related with several of its intrinsic characteristics. By studying the firms, and the existing interactions, characteristics that are peculiar to the Italian industrial districts were noticed. This sector possesses some strong characteristics of industrial districts that have influenced and conditioned its innovative performance.