Mexican Technology Based Firms and their Capacity for Innovation: A Methodological Proposal

The well-known New Technology Based Firms (NTBF) are small and medium-sized businesses characterized by their knowledge platform focused on innovation. However, the construction of innovation-performance indicators is an issue that has not been sufficiently studied in the field of technology management. One of the main problems in establishing a reliable measurement of innovation in these firms is the lack of uniform criteria regarding the type of indicators that can be used to measure their technological capabilities. In this paper, we propose a measurement methodology that uses non-traditional indicators of innovative activity such as cooperation mechanisms with public and private organizations, the existence of information networks and technological knowledge within the firm, the degree of participation in social and institutional activities, as well as human-resource participation in developing and implementing innovations within the organization. A robust methodology for the development of indictors of innovation capabilities in NTBFs can be the basis for designing public policies supporting the creation and growth of this type of business, not only in Mexico but also in other Latin American countries. Adapted from the source document.