|
|
|
|
Acquisition of
new technology by the firm is
typically an input to developing
proprietary products and services.
External sources of technology
embodied in products or in the form
of technical knowledge, are
generally complementary to internal
resources.
Indicators of receptivity and
innovativeness in SMEs were
generated by the survey. These
include:
the level of employment of graduate
Qualified Scientists and Engineers
(QSEs)
QSEs roles in firms
whether any staff specialise in R&D
or in other innovation related
functions
the level of expenditure on new
product and process developments
the frequency of introduction of new
technologies into the firm.
External Technology Sources
The main external sources of
technology were:
Suppliers
Customers
Knowledge Pools (eg Patents, Trade
Fairs, Exhibitions, Trade
Associations and Legislation)
SET Base - Direct (eg HEIs, FE
Colleges, Research and Technology
Organisations)
Other External Sources
e.g. Consultancy Firms, Business
Links
Importance of External Sources
Firms rank their internal resources
as the most important for
technological innovation. They rank
the various types of external source
as follows:
Vertically Linked Firms - Suppliers
and Customers
Customers
Knowledge Pools
SET Base & Technology Intermediaries
Concluding Remarks
This paper is intended primarily to
contribute to discussion of the
issues of policy towards innovation,
especially in SMEs and to stimulate
further debate. Some of the
characteristics of manufacturing
SMEs that emerge strongly from the
analysis and have a bearing on the
design and implementation of
innovation and technology policy
towards these firms can be
summarised as follows:
The manufacturing SME Population is
highly varied in its capacity for
innovation and cannot be treated as
homogeneous by policy makers.
internal competencies are the main
drivers of innovativeness and
performance
the supply chain is the largest
source of technological information,
but extensive use is made of
knowledge pools
other external sources, including
the SET base, are used as
complements to internal resources,
by the most technologically
innovative SMEs.
high tech firms are important for
growth and efficiency, but are a
minority of SMEs. Firms in all
sectors who are progressive but not
leading edge, account for a large
share of output and are vital to the
supply chain. |
|
|
