Relações inter-firmas em Barcarena/PA: um estudo das práticas de inovação e cooperação na rede de fornecedores e subcontratados da IRCC

Abstract

This thesis aims to present a study of interfirm relations among metallurgy firms located in the at the industrial district of Barcarena city, State of Pará. The analysis is based on the inter-relations between the network suppliers and outsourced firms of the main firm. These firms are organized to operate the mining and exports of kaolin. Following development theories which assume that innovation and its diffusion is crucial to economic development, the study concentrates on how the production arrangements are able to be competitive through an innovation system based on cooperative networks among a specific group of public and private agents. The results shoe that even with certain innovation in the production processes as an answer to the technical requirements of the contracting firms, suppliers are not able to establish cooperative relations that would facilitate the diffusion of the innovations. Moreover, they have a lack of managerial and technological resources that would generate product innovation. Also, they are not able to transform those innovation processes into significative productivity gains. The absence of cooperation behavior among firms is extended to other agents such as research institutes, universities, technical training institutions, development and credit agencies, workers associations, cooperatives and unions. Consequently, the network suppliers wastes the potential of synergetic gains, would be able to improve local competitiveness. Here, are also presented the main implications of this study to public policy, regional development and public policy planning.