REDESIST -

Our aim has been to address a series of issues including the new requirements and forms of industrial and technological development associated with the Knowledge Era and the role, objectives and tools of industrial and technology policies in this new international context. Particular emphasis is given to the challenges posed to developing countries and regions. Besides elaborating a conceptual and methodological framework, we have conducted empirical research investigating the recent experience of productive arrangements and innovation systems operating in different sectors and regions in Brazil and other Mercosur countries. These have included the analysis of:

• Their characteristics, relevant actors and institutional set-up;
• The role of interactions among agents; internal and external relations;
• Main policy programmes for local arrangements and systems;
• Their dynamism, innovative activities and learning processes;
• How the changes of the 1990s - the new macroeconomic environment; increased world competition; the emergence of the ICT paradigm; the acceleration of globalisation; the process of economic liberalisation; and the creation of the Mercosur - have affected them and local productive and innovative capabilities;
• New demands for innovative development policies, reflecting current transformations.

Federative Republic of Brazil

Brazilian Central Bank

BNDES - The Development Bank

IBGE - Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics

CNPq - National Advice of Scientific and Technological Development

INT - National institute of Technology

INMETRO - National Institute of Metrology, Standardization and Industrial Quality

FINEP - Research and Projects Financing

Brazilian Academy of Sciences

ANPEI - National Association for R, D&E of Innovative Companies

Embrapa - Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation

CNI - National Confederation of Industry

RNP - National Net of Education and Research

FIRJAN - Federation of Industries of the State of Rio de Janeiro

CODIN - Company of Industrial Development of the State of Rio de Janeiro

FIESP - Federacy of the Industries of the State of São Paulo

Federative Bank of Brazil

GisMaps - Systems of Geographic Information

Institute of Economy of the UFRJ

Unisinos - University of Vale dos Sinos

UNISC - University of Santa Cruz do Sul

ECLAC - Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean

ALADI - Latin American Association of IntegrationThe World Bank

The transformations inherent to the transition from the Industrial Era to the Knowledge Era reveal the need for developing a new conceptual framework to deepen the understanding of emerging social, technological and economic patterns globally, as well as their far-reaching impacts on competitiveness and on socio-economic development. As an alternative to more traditional emphases on economic sectors and individual firms, we have been developing a conceptual and methodological approach focussing on local productive and innovative systems.

The emphasis on local systems underlines the relevance of understanding:

• Interactive learning processes,
• Innovative technical and organisational qualification,
• Accumulated tacit knowledge and trust, and
• Geographic, social and cultural proximity as important sources of diversity and competitive advantages.