Beyond technological catch-up: An empirical investigation of further innovative capability accumulation outcomes in latecomer firms with evidence from Brazil

Abstract

ABSTRACT. This article examines outcomes that are achieved by latecomer firms from the accumulation of innovative capabilities. Drawing on fieldwork evidence from pulp and paper firms in Brazil (1950Brazil ( -2010, it was found that: (1) the firms accumulated innovative capabilities that turned them into world leaders in the segment of the global pulp and paper industry based on eucalyptus forestry; (2) besides this technological catch-up, the accumulation of these innovative capabilities resulted in outcomes that generated benefits within these firms such as (i) implemented inventive and innovative activities; (ii) consistent improvement of several parameters of operational and environment-related performance; (iii) varied patterns of corporate growth; (3) these outcomes were achieved not only by research-based and patent-related capabilities but mainly by a mix of innovative capability levels, with differing degrees of novelty and complexity for diverse technological functions. Therefore, the accumulation of a wide range of types and levels of innovative capabilities does pay off for the innovative firms, their industries and, ultimately, their economies. By combining a novel approach to examining firm capabilities with findings from an inductive fieldwork, this article provides new empirical and methodological insights for the longstanding debate on innovative capabilities as the fundamental source of firm competitive performance. The article draws managers' attention to the importance of a multiplicity of types and levels of capabilities to achieve relevant outcomes, and policy makers in developing economies to adopt a comprehensive view on innovative activities and place firm-centred innovation capability accumulation at the centre of industrial innovation policies.

Capacitação Tecnológica e Desempenho Produtivo das Empresas Brasileiras

“…Segundo Figueiredo (2014), a capacidade tecnológica de uma firma pode ser definida por três dimensões: (i) estoque de conhecimento relacionado a recursos que são acumulados pelo capital humano, o que envolve profissionais especializados e níveis de qualificações e habilidades, formal ou informal; (ii) sistema organizacional, que envolve arranjos organizacionais da firma, como seus procedimentos, rotinas, parcerias e sistema gerencial; e (iii) sistema técnico-físico, que envolve a infraestrutura técnico-científica da firma como equipamentos, laboratórios, hardware, software, etc.…”

“…Essa questão ganha contornos mais específicos quando se analisa países em desenvolvimento como o Brasil, já que, no geral, as firmas desses países possuem níveis de capacidade tecnológica inferiores às firmas de países desenvolvidos, sendo, muitas vezes, usuárias e/ou imitadoras de tecnologia estrangeira. Diferentes níveis de capacidade tecnológica entre as firmas permitem que atividades inovativas (não apenas baseadas em P&D) sejam implantadas com diferentes níveis de novidade e complexidade com importantes impactos no desempenho produtivo (Figueiredo, 2014).…”

The New Imperative of Innovation: Policy Perspectives for Latin America and the Caribbean

“…What the evidence from developed countries suggests is that reliance on natural resources can foster economic growth when underpinned by efforts to increase technological innovation and accumulation of capabilities to innovate around these resources. Specialized knowledge-intensive supplier firms developed around these industries are central not only for innovation and technology diffusion across the natural resource base, but also for diversification toward related higher-value products and activities (Figueiredo, 2013). …”

La política de innovación en América Latina y el Caribe: Nuevos caminos

“…Para numerosas empresas de procesamiento de recursos naturales, estas competencias se sitúan más allá de sus propias capacidades y deben adquirirse afuera. Las empresas KIS que se han desarrollado como respuesta a estas señales de mercado actualmente son fundamentales no solo para la innovación y la tecnología, sino también para la diversificación en productos y actividades de mayor valor agregado (Figueiredo, 2014). La externalización de los servicios de producción por parte de las firmas productoras de materias primas constituye un factor central de esta rápida expansión de los KIS en toda América Latina.…”