Innovative potential of small and medium-sized enterprises in the Antofagasta-Chile region: An exploratory study

Abstract

The aim of this research is to analyze the innovative potential of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the Region of Antofagasta - Chile. The paper makes a detailed bibliographic revision on regional innovation processes and presents the results of a questionnaire applied to SMEs, considered as innovative according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OCDE) criteria. Although these results have to be carefully considered, due to the size of the sample it is possible to observe that there is an increasing awareness of the importance of innovation in the region while, at the same time, many obstacles to innovate are recognized.