Title: Innovation capabilities in small-medium autocomponents: evidence from Italy
Authors: Giuseppe Calabrese
Addresses: Ceris-CNR, Via Avogadro 8, 10121 Torino, Italy
Abstract: Small-medium firms represent more than 90% of Italian firms, 50% of Italian production and two thirds of employment and they need support in innovation processes especially in known technology. The small-medium firm, in fact, operates chiefly in medium to low technology sectors, but cannot for this reason reject innovation. Suppliers are often too small to make the necessary investments in training, computer systems, research and development to make an effective partnership with final producers. Within this scenario the behaviour of the small-medium car supplier is quite different, vertical disintegration, reorganisation of the supply base, globalisation and the development of buyer-supplier relationships have undoubtedly changed the role of suppliers in the carmaker|s strategies.
Keywords: innovative activities; small firms; specialised suppliers.
DOI: 10.1504/IJATM.2001.000053
International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management, 2001 Vol.1 No.4, pp.471-489
Published online: 02 Jul 2003 *
Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article