Clustering Effects and the Internationalization of High-Tech New Ventures in Technology Parks and Incubators

Informações

Código: ESO738
Divisão: ESO - Estratégia em Organizações
Tema de Interesse: Tema 08 - Negócios Internacionais

Autores

Alvaro Berbel, Angela da Rocha, Lavilha Sá, Jorge Carneiro

Resumo

This paper aims at contributing to the understanding of the extent to which certain clusteringeffects – that is the potential benefits of firm agglomeration in specific locations – may or notinduce early internationalization of high-tech new ventures. Two types of spatialagglomerations – the technology park and the technology incubator – were examined. Tworesearch questions guided the study: (i) Do the typical clustering effects occur in a technologypark or a technology incubator? (ii) If so, do they facilitate the internationalization of hightechnew ventures?A literature review was conducted covering clustering effects and firm internationalization.We examined four types of clustering effects that could help promote the internationalizationof high-tech new ventures in the context of technology parks and incubators: (i) networking;(ii) isomorphism; (iii) cooperation among firms; and (iv) availability of support organizations.This research is exploratory and qualitative. The study used two levels of analysis. First, itlooked at the technology park or the incubator as an entity in itself, following the researchtradition on business incubators, science and technology parks, and high-tech clusters.Second, it looked at specific new ventures that were nurtured by these organizations andengaged in internationalization processes. We selected one case of each type of organizationfor the study, among those considered most successful in Brazil: Porto Digital, a technologypark located in Recife, and Genesis Institute, a university business incubator located in theRio de Janeiro. We then studied software firms from Porto Digital and Genesis Institute thathad some degree of international experience. Primary data was gathered by means of 21 indepthinterviews with company founders and key executives, managers of the two focalorganizations and other participating organizations, as well as specialists. Additionalconsultations by telephone and e-mail were made as analysis progressed. Secondary data wereextracted from the sites of the organizations studied, as well as dissertations, articles innewspapers and business magazines, and other sources in the internet. Previously selectedanalytical categories, based on the literature, were then used to organize the data collected forthe study.This study’s results showed that although both organizations displayed the clustering effectsexpected, these effects were to some extent limited, when compared to “natural” orspontaneous clusters. This might be the reason why such clustering effects seemed to havelittle or no impact on the internationalization of their tenants. A major recommendation tothese organizations is that they should aim at helping their tenants to connect to internationalnetworks of research institutes, universities, and potential customers. Anotherrecommendation, directed to incubators, is to make agreements with incubators abroad thatcould accept for incubation “subsidiaries” of local start-ups. This would permit high-techstart-ups to enter international markets without having to bear the associated costs.

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