Localisation of Companies as a Differential Factor of Stimulus in Innovation. Case Study: Vallès Technological Park

Abstract

Company productivity is one of the key factors in economic growth, a clear indicator of the level of economic activity of a Society. This productivity is directly related to competition between companies, and it is in this aspect that it acquires primary importance, the degree of innovation of the organisations, shown both in their products (goods or services), and the corresponding production processes they use. In this manner, stimulation increases in the same direction for other companies (whether competitors or not), consequently provoking a type of "chain" reaction, increasing the degree of innovation both in what are known as knowledge overflows among geographically close companies, and due to a "contamination" effect, with ensuing benefit of the tacit knowledge transmitted. In this sense, one of the most important strategic decisions in companies nowadays is their physical localisation. Depending on their mission statement, and with the aim of providing correct development of their objectives, basing their installations in areas close to the field of activity forming the environment of suppliers, customers, communications, and even competitors takes on extraordinary significance. This study aims to test to what extent localisation of companies in territorial groupings is a key factor for increasing innovation, by carrying out a comparative study of the data obtained from a group of companies located in the same area (Parc Tecnològic de Vallès, Vallès Technological Park), with corresponding companies throughout the Spanish state over the same time periods (INE statistics).