High Technology, Productivity and Networks: A Systemic Approach to SME Development

Progress in telecommunications and infrastructure, coupled with liberalization in international organizations, has introduced a number of new competitors to existing SMEs. This book analyzes strategic aspects of SME development that may help to promote growth: high-tech development, productivity increase, and strengthening of linkages.

Table of Contents:
Foreword; M.D.Parrilli PART I: INTRODUCTION Hi-tech Development, Productivity Increase and Networking: A Systemic Approach to the Development of Small and Medium Enterprises; M.D.Parrilli PART II: HI-TECH PROMOTION The Regional Innovation System in Emilia-Romagna, Italy; L.Ramaciotti Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in Hi-Technology Industries: The Experience of the Biotech Industry in the US; S.Schweitzer& M.Di Tommaso The Start-up Process of Knowledge-based Firms in Latin America; H.Kantis& P.Angelelli PART III: PRODUCTIVITY INCREASES Business Support Services: A Conceptual Framework and some Interesting Practices; N.Bellini Entrepreneurship, Small Firms and Self-Employment; D.Audretsch, M.Callejon& M.J.Aranguren Competitiveness based on Low Production Costs or on High Specialisation and Productivity: The Case of Costa Rica; J.Aguilar& M.Elizondo PART IV: NETWORKING Trust and Social Capital in Glo-Cal Networks; L.De Propis Local and Global Linkages of Small and Medium Enterprises in Local Production Systems in Brazil; W.Suzigan, R.Garcia& J.Furtado Industrial Cluster Trajectories and Opportunities for Endogenous Upgrading in Developing Countries; P.Knorringa A Sectoral Approach to Global Value Chain and Cluster Development in Latin America; C.Pietrobelli& R.Rabellotti PART V: CONCLUSIONS Conclusions; P.Bianchi

About the Author :
JUSTO AGUILAR Full Professor and Director of the Institute for Research in Economic Sciences, University of Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica PABLO ANGELELLI Expert, Division on Small and Medium Enterprises, Inter-American Development Bank, Washington, USA MARI JOSE ARANGUREN Director, Department of Economics, University of Deusto and Orkestra Institute of Competitiveness and Development, San Sebastian, Spain DAVID AUDRETSCH Full Professor, University of Indiana, USA; Director of Entrepreneurship, Growth and Public Policy, Max Planck Institute of Economics, Jena, Germany NICOLA BELLINI Full Professor, University School Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy MARIA CALLEJON Full Professor, University of Barcelona, Spain; Director of SME Policies, Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade, Spain LISA DE PROPIS Senior Lecturer, Institute for Economic Development Policy, University of Birmingham, UK MARCO DI TOMMASO Associate Professor, Faculty of Economics, University of Ferrara, Italy MAIKOL ELIZONDO Research Fellow, Institute for Research in Economic Sciences, University of Costa Rica, Costa Rica JOAO FURTADO Full Professor, Polytechnic School, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil RENATO GARCIA Associate Professor, Polytechnic School, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil HUGO KANTIS Full Professor, University of General Sarmiento, Buenos Aires, Argentina PETER KNORRINGA Associate Professor, Institute of Social Studies, The Hague, The Netherlands CARLO PIETROBELLI Full Professor, University ofRome Three, Rome, Italy ROBERTA RABELLOTTI Associate Professor, University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy LAURA RAMACIOTTI Associate Professor, Faculty of Economics, University of Ferrara, Italy STUART SCHWEITZER Full Professor, University of California, Los Angeles, USA WILSON SUZIGAN Full Professor, University of Campinas, Brazil