Pró-Inova: project to implement innovation management in industrial SMEs - Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

Abstract

This article aims to contribute with the learning and difusion of the organizational innovation, presenting an experience of the Pró-Inova project in the Rio Grande do Norte state, located in Brazil’s Northeastern region, conducted between 2012 and 2014. The project was promoted by the Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos (FINEP) [Studies and Projects Funder] and developed nationaly, aiming to “motivate, mobilize and capacitate entrepreneurs; perform diagnostic and elaborate plans and projects of enterprise innovation management”. In order to reach this goal, the case here analyzed adopted the action research methodology (Coughlan & Coghlan, 2002), splited in (1) data gathering, (2) data feedback and (3) data analysis, (4) action planning, (5) implementation, (6) evaluation and (7) monitoring of the actions. As results, it has been identified the innovation practices there are in the project participants industries, and it has been realized actions towards the development of this management culture, being implanted 88 innovating initiatives in the industries, with 117 new practices in the implementation stage. The performed study stimulates the researchers to think about the innovation management by consolidating the results of a practical experience, accomplished with a scientific approach, that can be expanded over the other project participants industries in the state and in the country, providing a larger amplitude and deepening to the subject in question, as well as replicated in another projects.