Las pymes: vínculos y redes de cooperación para la innovación en Antioquia. (Un estudio exploratorio)

Abstract

This article is a summary of a research report in which the first results of an exploratory work about the existence of innovation networks, as networks of knowledge in Antioquian Pymes, are presented. It is widely maintained by the international literatureen the subject that cooperation is the best strategy within the reach of Pymes at the moment in order to face their intrinsic weaknesses and their isolation within local, regional, national and international market circles. The preliminary findings of asurvey applied toa Pymes sample show that while companies carry out technological and non technological innovation activities and obtain results, cooperation with other entrepreneurial, academic and social agents is a competitive activity seldom used. On the other hand, a case study shows that there are sorne regional indicators that show the emergence of favourable conditions for the generalization of multi-agent cooperation relationships which could in turn open the way toa regional system of innovation that would be more dynamic and able to carry out further social and economic development.