Title: Cluster analysis of innovative companies of the Basque country

Authors: Lorenzo Remirez-Esparza

Addresses: Consulter Business, Apdo 10049, Madrid 28080, Spain

Abstract: Technological innovation has become a clue for competitiveness in global markets in which companies are involved nowadays. The Basque industrial fabric, which is fundamentally composed of small and medium sized companies (SMEs), will be analysed in this paper. High costs and high commercial and economical risks are the biggest barriers to innovation. SMEs try to overcome these barriers by cooperating with public infrastructures (public centres of R&D, Universities), or with other companies (customers, suppliers). Most of the companies viewed are product innovators, easier to protect and with a higher impact on sales, whilst a small number innovate their processes. There are five important innovation groups: dynamic innovators, constant innovators, design innovators, process innovators and opportunist innovators.

Keywords: cluster analysis; innovative companies; technological intensity; characterisation of the innovative SME; innovation standards of the SME; SMEs; Basque country; Spain.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEIM.2003.003288

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, 2003 Vol.3 No.4, pp.373 - 402

Published online: 20 Aug 2003 *

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