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Putting policy into practice: an exploratory study of SME innovation support in a peripheral UK region

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  • Brendan Galbraith
  • Rodney McAdam
  • Judith Woods
  • Theresa McGowan

Abstract

Focussing on a regional Government sponsored support programme for technology-based small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the aim of this paper is to conduct a multi-level exploration of the relationships between policy interpretation and support programme design and the development of innovation capability among participant SMEs within a U.K peripheral region. The Innovplus programme was designed and implemented in Northern Ireland to help nascent high technology companies become more competitive and to contribute to the goals of the Regional Innovation Strategy. A knowledge-based absorptive capacity framework is used as the theoretical lens to explore the relationships between policy interpretation and programme design and the development of innovation capability within participant SMEs. The findings show that the design of the Innovplus programme, while linked to a coherent Regional Innovation Strategy, lacks consistency in relation to the policy and practical interpretation of knowledge and innovation. This inconsistency is reflected in the practical design of the programme, limiting its effectiveness as a result. In terms of the development of innovation capability, it was found that recognition and development of nascent absorptive capacity drivers in potential form was essential before participant SMEs could transition to realised absorptive capacity.

Suggested Citation

  • Brendan Galbraith & Rodney McAdam & Judith Woods & Theresa McGowan, 2017. "Putting policy into practice: an exploratory study of SME innovation support in a peripheral UK region," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(7-8), pages 668-691, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:entreg:v:29:y:2017:i:7-8:p:668-691
    DOI: 10.1080/08985626.2017.1325939
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Todtling, Franz & Trippl, Michaela, 2005. "One size fits all?: Towards a differentiated regional innovation policy approach," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(8), pages 1203-1219, October.
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    2. Klímová Viktorie & Žítek Vladimír & Lelková Tereza, 2022. "Public Support for Innovation: Changes in Turnover of Granted Companies," Business Systems Research, Sciendo, vol. 13(1), pages 120-137, June.
    3. Klímová, Viktorie & Žítek, Vladimir & Lelková, Tereza, 2021. "The Influence of Public Support for Innovations on the Economic Performance of Enterprises," Proceedings of the ENTRENOVA - ENTerprise REsearch InNOVAtion Conference (2021), Hybrid Conference, Zagreb, Croatia, in: Proceedings of the ENTRENOVA - ENTerprise REsearch InNOVAtion Conference, Hybrid Conference, Zagreb, Croatia, 9-10 September 2021, pages 315-323, IRENET - Society for Advancing Innovation and Research in Economy, Zagreb.
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    9. Hameed, Kamran & Arshed, Noman & Yazdani, Naveed & Munir, Mubbasher, 2021. "Motivating business towards innovation: A panel data study using dynamic capability framework," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    10. Roth Cardoso, Hugo Henrique & Dantas Gonçalves, Adriana & Dambiski Gomes de Carvalho, Gustavo & Gomes de Carvalho, Hélio, 2020. "Evaluating innovation development among Brazilian micro and small businesses in view of management level: Insights from the local innovation agents program," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
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    12. Zhou, Jianghua & Li, Jizhen & Jiao, Hao & Qiu, Hang & Liu, Zixu, 2020. "The more funding the better? The moderating role of knowledge stock on the effects of different government-funded research projects on firm innovation in Chinese cultural and creative industries," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 92.
    13. Anna Lewandowska & Herman Cherniaiev, 2022. "R&D Cooperation and Investments concerning Sustainable Business Innovation: Empirical Evidence from Polish SMEs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-16, August.

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