Explaining technological innovation of the clustered firms: Internal and relational factors

Abstract

The objective of this research is to investigate the combinations of internal and external factors that lead cluster companies to innovate. The study follows a complex causality approach using Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) with a sample of 166 companies that belong to the Spanish ceramic tile cluster, differentiating between end product firms and specialized industrial firms. The results show how the two groups benefit from different factors when it comes to technological innovations. End product-focused firms benefit from vertical relationships with suppliers and the interaction with supporting organizations like universities, among others. Specialized industrial firms benefit, above all, from a high R&D investment.