REGIONAL INNOVATION SYSTEM OF BRAZILIAN AERONAUTICAL INDUSTRY

Abstract

There are evidences that the aeronautical industry is a large Brazilian business success example. This success was followed by a significant thickening of the supply chain composed of small and medium-sized technology-based firms, among other suppliers. Considering these companies and their contribution to economic development, this paper proposes to identify and analyze the mechanisms of articulation and territorial governance of the Regional Innovation System located in Metropolitan Region of Paraí­ba Valley and North Coast, in order to analyze the role of innovation networks for regional development. The methodological approach was grounded in the interpretive vision. The empirical research was conducted through semi-structured interviews with various actors. The research examined innovation as strategic theme in the institutions and the region; public policies to foster innovation; cooperation between the actors; learning processes; processes of innovation diffusion; challenges, barriers and difficulties. The results indicate the need for a new level of maturity in the regional innovation system, with greater coordination of innovation networks and greater integration of the science, technology and innovation base, aimed at broader challenges faced by the territory, in benefit of the socio-economic development of the Metropolitan Region of Paraí­ba Valley and North Coast. Based on the results, we can conclude that the Regional Innovation System of Brazilian Aeronautical Industry aims to disseminate the culture of innovation as a competitive differential of enterprises in this globalized world. Finally, it is possible to state that the study of Regional Innovation System in the aeronautics industry was very enlightening, to have produced results which can be useful both to the future research on the subject as well as for the development of new solutions for the growth of the companies located in Metropolitan Region of Paraí­ba Valley and North Coast, in São Paulo, Brazil.