THE ROLE OF NETWORK RELATIONSHIPS IN INNOVATION AND INTERNATIONALIZATION OF TECHNOLOGY BASED COMPANIES DOI: 10.5585/rai.v7i1.286

Abstract

Today, many studies are oriented to relate internationalization’s performance to entrepreneurial characteristics; pro-activity, innovation, and integration in a network of relationship. However, most of them are concentrated to study the case of companies from developed countries with relatively small domestic markets. Based on the experience of Brazilian companies, the aim of this paper is to evaluate the ways in which networks of relationships and activities of innovation influence the intensity of internationalization. The study is designed to be qualitative, using a sample of three companies localized in a technology-based center in Florianópolis (state of Santa Catarina, South of Brazil). The results show that the enterprises attach great importance to networks in the internationalization of their activities. Using them as a source of information, networks access to foreign markets easier. Moreover, they are perceived as innovative and country leader in their industries. However, according to their performance in international activities, they can´t be identified as Born Globals. One likely explanation is that the networks in which businesses are taking part present a low level of internationalization. Although companies play great importance to the networks for internationalization, the technology center where businesses are included does not display a high degree of internationalization. Furthermore, the cases have showed that there are some evidence about the role of networking by companies seeking for innovation.