Políticas públicas, cultura industrial e innovación: la movilización del sistema de I+D en Navarra

This document analyzes the evolution and current situation of the R&D system in the Navarre region (Northern Spain). Special attention is devoted to the effects of public policies on the innovative activities of industrial SMEs. The study focuses on external cooperation as an indicator of innovation intensity, and on the role of public subsidies in fostering such cooperation. The study is based on the responses of 237 industrial SMEs to the Spanish innovation survey and on 34 qualitative interviews conducted with enterprises and technology agents. In line with the recent literature, the paper illustrates both the difficulties which industrial SMEs find in carrying out innovation and cooperation activities, and the potentialities of the regional environment in helping overcome those barriers.