Formas de aprendizagem e graus de inovação de produto no Brasil: uma análise exploratória dos padrões setoriais de aprendizagem

This paper aims to broaden the understanding of innovation dynamics in Brazilian firms. For doing so, we constructed indicators of u0027types of learningu0027 and u0027degrees of innovationu0027 and their relationships were econometrically tested. Significant sectoral differences were found. It was also found that: (i) u0027higher degreeu0027 innovations arise from forms of learning that combine both codified knowledge (such as knowledge arising from advanced ST (ii) u0027lesser degreeu0027 innovations derive almost exclusively from forms of learning that consider only tacit knowledge; and (iii) customers are always important sources for innovation processes. From the latter finding, we hypothesized that the limited dynamic innovation found in Brazilian firms can be explained by a type of u0027lock-in effectu0027 related to customersu0027 demands for quality. The stimulus to exports is the main policy recommendation derived from this analysis, by admitting that more sophisticated customers may induce the most promising technological trajectories.