Interorganizational innovation networks of Brazilian and Spanish biotechnology companies

Abstract

This study has the purpose of conducting a dynamic comparative analysis of interorganizational innovation networks of Brazilian and Spanish biotechnology companies. It aims to explore the differences between the network characteristics and their actors' positions and types as well as to analyze the temporal evolution of these networks. Although analyses of the evolution of networks are relevant in supporting comprehension of paths for innovation, they are incipient, particularly as crosscountry studies. Considering that, this comparison between Brazil and Spain, which are at different levels of biotechnology development, may contribute to the advancement of this area. Social network analysis techniques are employed to draw and measure the network characteristics constructed under the information of patent applications by biotechnology companies located in Brazil and Spain in the period of 1990-2012. The results demonstrate an impressive growth of innovation networks from both countries but show an inferior position for Brazilian data in terms of constancy, volume of partnerships, partner diversity, and main actor types. Thus, this article reveals patterns of evolution over time for each country, which allows for the determination of the implications for public policy and managerial experts.

Relacionamentos Interorganizacionais na Bioindústria Amazonense na Percepção dos Empresários

“…The infrastructure is among the main reasons why firms seek partnerships in a horizontal relationship or in a university-firm collaboration (Costa et al, 2018) and the result of this study corroborates with Gomes et al (2017) on raising the level of development of biotechnology firms. The services to which the firms refer are laboratorial, training, transportation, consulting, technical assistance, gas supply, participation in event/product publicization, technology transfer, licensing and regulatory aspects.…”

“…Organizational networks focused on innovation are strengthened through the sharing of risks, knowledge, people, and infrastructure. Better use of these sharing possibilities raises the level of development of biotechnology firms (Gomes et al, 2017). Thus, the third premise of this study is that the need for the complementarity of resources motivates partnerships in the Amazon bioindustry (P3).…”

“…There has been growing interest in studies on the evolution of networks since that, because of the constant evolution, a network's structure is not stable, and none of a network's members are in a stable position (Gomes, Galina, Vicentin, & Porto, 2017). The influence of managerial cognitive structures on organizational dynamics has gained emphasis in the field of study of industrial organizations.…”

“…In these networks, the interactions occur to enable cost reduction and increase the quality of products and solutions for customers, to expand distribution channels, increase the intensity of technological innovation and product development, even among competitors. For Gomes, Galina, Vicentin, and Porto (2017), this type of relationship is a contractual agreement between recipient firms and donors that explicitly specify their exchanges, sharing, or co-development of knowledge among partners.…”

“…In this sense, although some types of relationships have been identified, they are not practiced in intensity and quality by a representative number of firms, as observed in the web of relationships in Figure 3. Also, these relationships did not meet the requirements to be characterized as part of a network of business enterprises as established by Gomes et al (2017) and Moran et al (2012).…”