Abstract

Catching up in knowledge intensive business services: the case of the software and IT services from Argentina and Brazil. Rev. iberoam. cienc. tecnol. soc. [online]. 2013, vol.8, n.24, pp.115-144. ISSN 1850-0013.

In recent years, Latin America has undergone an increase of activities in the sectors related to knowledge intensive business services. Such increase brings with it new development prospects for the region. The aim of this paper is to compare the structural characteristics and innovative performance of the software and IT services sector in two of the largest Latin American economies: Argentina and Brazil. The authors of this study have adopted a sectoral systems of innovation perspective, trying to offer insights into the innovative behavior patterns of both sectors in terms of their similarities and differences, and emphasizing specially on sectoral policies implemented in both countries. From an exploratory and descriptive point of view that offers wide possibilities for a deeper analysis, this paper shows a differential innovative performance between these two economies in this sector. It also highlights some qualitative differences between its sectoral systems, particularly related to the effective coverage of the policy promoting instruments and the production profile of each case.

Keywords : Software sector; Sectoral system of innovation; Argentina; Brazil.