Title: One policy fits all? Regional innovation policy in Jalisco

Authors: Patricia Graf

Addresses: Chair for Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship, Potsdam University, August-Bebel-Straße 89, 14482 Potsdam, Germany

Abstract: This paper explores the interactions of regional actors engaging in innovation policy. By comparing the software/electronics industry with the shoe industry, we show that the hightech sectors engaged in local innovation policy, whereas more traditional industries have been reluctant to open up to innovation. We argue that actors had different opportunities for policy engagement or made different use of these opportunities due to the framing of innovation policy as high-tech policy, as well as to the remaining structure of corporatism. However sustainable growth can only be achieved by tailoring innovation policies to include all sectors, rather than focusing on high-tech innovation. The article is based on official statistics in addition to our own qualitative interviews with regional experts.

Keywords: regional innovation; Mexico; high tech industries; low-tech industries; traditional industries; electronics industry; software industry; shoe industry; innovation policy; high technology; low technology.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIRD.2012.046584

International Journal of Innovation and Regional Development, 2012 Vol.4 No.2, pp.160 - 179

Received: 11 Apr 2011
Accepted: 11 Jan 2012
Published online: 23 Aug 2014 *

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