Conhecimento e inovação organizacional nas PMEs associadas em redes de cooperação: um estudo no Programa Redes de Cooperação do RS

Abstract

The present study aims to identify the elements and results of the formation of cooperation networks for the socialization of knowledge and development of innovation, at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) associated to them. Considering that SMEs have a relevant participation in the Brazilian economic context, and that they face several kinds of difficulties to survive, grow and innovate in the market when acting individually. The study if the formation and functioning of cooperation networks contribute to the development of such companies becomes important, hence, studies about this kind of networks, creation of organizational knowledge, and technological innovation were adopted as theoretical referential. To achieve the intended objective, a research through two stages was performed: in the first stage, through a survey, the objective was to understand the context of networks and to measure the knowledge and innovation gained by the SMEs after getting together as a net. At the second stage of the res