Research contracts and patents in the Spanish ceramic tile district innovation system

Abstract

This work applies the systemic approach to analyze the innovation process in an industrial district through the notion of the District Innovation System. We are particularly interested in the analysis of the interactions between the productive-technological and the scientific environments through the analysis of research contracts and patents. The empirical section of the paper develops a quantitative analysis of the interactions between different actors of the system included in the district. This analysis was used to indicate the special features of the innovation system in a territorially bounded industrial district. Findings suggest relevant conclusions about specific characteristics of the inter-organizational environments in the industrial district which have to be considered.