Knowledge creation process within high-tech SMEs in a context of industrial clusters: a cross-national comparison

Abstract

This paper presents research results that aimed to explain the multilevel mechanism of the knowledge creation process in biotechnological industrial clusters. The conducted research was a cross-national research of four multiple case studies with an inferential and exploratory approach. The key finding of this paper is that SMEs have in common, a knowledge creation process, and that its elements were classified as a priori and a posteriori asset occurring at their internal levels. The French SMEs benefit from additional assets if compared with Brazilian SMEs and these assets allow the acceleration of their knowledge creation process, mainly due to financial supports, shared infrastructures, and collaborative projects. This study continues and further develops the model proposed by Nonaka and Takeuchi (1995), who described the knowledge creation process by identifying tangible and intangible assets that are retrieved from a multilevel structure. Implications for policymakers, scholars and practitioners are addressed.