Title: Innovation activities and innovative performance of Ecuadorian companies

Authors: Orly Carvache-Franco; Mauricio Carvache-Franco; Wilmer Carvache-Franco; Miguel A. Bustamante-Ubilla

Addresses: Facultad de Especialidades Empresariales, Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil, Av. Carlos Julio Arosemena Km. 1 1/2 Vía Daule, Guayaquil, Ecuador ' Universidad Espíritu Santo, Km. 2.5 Vía a Samborondón, Samborondón, Ecuador ' Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales y Humanísticas, Campus Gustavo Galindo Km. 30.5 Vía Perimetral, P.O. Box 09-01-5863, Guayaquil, Ecuador ' Facultad de Economía y Negocios, Universidad de Talca, Dos Norte 685, 3465548 Talca, Chile; Sistema de Posgrado, Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil, Av. Carlos Julio Arosemena Km. 1 1/2 Vía Daule, Guayaquil, Ecuador

Abstract: This research examines the relationship between innovation activities and the innovative performance of Ecuadorian companies. It was a quantitative non-experimental study with a cross-sectional design. The sample was obtained from the Ecuadorian national innovation activities survey. The econometric model used was the bivariate probit regression. The results show that research and development (R&D), acquisition of machinery and equipment, acquisition of hardware and software, and training are the activities related to the innovative performance of Ecuadorian companies. These companies' innovation strategies and activities primarily focus on the technology acquisition strategy rather than the market-focused strategy through developing R&D. This research sheds new light on the relationships between innovation activities and innovative performance in developing countries, where evidence is scarce.

Keywords: innovation; innovation activities; innovative performance; product innovation; process innovation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBIR.2025.144747

International Journal of Business Innovation and Research, 2025 Vol.36 No.3, pp.400 - 415

Received: 09 Dec 2021
Accepted: 26 Mar 2022
Published online: 03 Mar 2025 *

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