Purpose This paper aims to provide empirical evidence regarding the relationship between different capabilities and innovation performances in the biotechnology sector, in the case of Mexico. Design/methodology/approach Given the aforementioned objective, this paper constructs different indicators on types of capabilities and innovative performances and, based on them, performs an econometric analysis based on a logit model. The work assumes the central assumptions of the firm's evolutionary theory and, in this sense, seeks to provide quantitative empirical evidence that explains the way in which the construction of different types of capacities determines the innovation results of Mexican firms in the biotechnology sector. Findings Corroborating the previous empirical evidence in analysis of firm’s capabilities in the biotechnology sector, this work empirically states that productive, absorption, technological and innovative capabilities positively influence the innovative performance of Mexican biotechnology firms. Originality/value This work examines a central theme linked to the current analysis of innovation and knowledge processes: the relationship between the organizational capacities of firms in the biotechnology sector and their innovative performance. Through a detailed analysis based on a national survey of Mexican biotechnology firms, this work underlines the importance of generating a new type of reflection on linkage among capabilities, innovation, paradigms and trajectories, technological opportunities, relationship dynamics among actors and modes of insertion into the biotechnology value chain.

This article presents a review of the discussion and debate around the intermediation functions carried out by technology centers (TCs), considered key organizations in the dynamics of national innovation processes based on collaboration between actors. I discuss the organizational roles and R&D strategies assumed by four Mexican TCs within the Mexican National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT) in order to encourage productive cooperation based on technology transfer and knowledge transfer. Grounded on this empirical referent, the present study analyzes critical structural factors in terms of organizational governance schemes, connections with regional innovation dynamics, and the national science-industry cooperation strategies behind the configuration of the analyzed TCs, which have determined their organizational action profiles.

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Purpose In light of the controversy between the theoretical importance of financing biotechnology firms’ research and development (R&D), and the firms’ contradictory and ambivalent empirical results, this paper aims to contribute to the debate by providing empirical evidence from Mexico’s case. Design/methodology/approach The authors use the probit model to determine if firms’ achievements in innovations are related to both private and public financing, and if so, to calculate their marginal effect on the firms’ innovation (n = 40 from 53 firms: 75.5% response). The survey was applied in 2015. Findings Although a large proportion of the firms innovate and dedicate resources to R&D activities, neither private financing (different from the R&D portion of sales) nor public financing has an impact on innovation activity. Research limitations/implications It is necessary to increase the number of studies that corroborate the type of link established between innovations in biotechnology firms and financing. Analyzing the financing/innovation links at various stages of the innovation process would also be relevant. Originality/value The research results support the perspective that the theoretical relationship between the financing and achievements of innovation is not conclusive and point to relevant considerations for the public policy agenda of the case study.

Resumen: Es objetivo de este trabajo explorar a la innovación como tema de estudio en Brasil, Chile y México, durante 2010-2017. Se recurre a la búsqueda de innovation y algunas variantes como tema de búsqueda en la base de datos Scopus. A partir de esa recopilación se ofrecen cuatro indicadores: se identifican áreas de conocimiento que concentran las publicaciones; algún grado de interdisciplinariedad del tema por país, que da una noción de difusión del tema y clústeres de conceptos asociados a la innovación que son relevantes para cada país. Se encuentran diferencias entre países: el tema es más interdisciplinario en México, pero en Brasil se aborda con mayor profusión y sistematicidad con respecto a Chile y México.Palabras clave: innovación; campo de estudio; Latinoamérica. Abstract:The objective of this work is to explore innovation as a subject of study in Brazil, Chile and Mexico during 2010-2017. It is used to search for innovation and some variants as a search topic in the Scopus database. Based on this collection, four indicators are offered: areas of knowledge are identified that concentrate publications; Some degree of interdisciplinarity of the theme per country, which gives a notion of diffusion of the theme and clusters of concepts associated with innovation that are relevant for each country. There are differences between countries: the subject is more interdisciplinary in Mexico, but in Brazil it is dealt with more profuseness and systematicity with respect to Chile and Mexico.

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