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Linkages in the New ICT Clusters of Latin America: Evidence from Costa Rica

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 September 2012

LUCIANO CIRAVEGNA
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Abstract

This paper studies the obstacles that hinder the formation of linkages among local firms, multinational corporations and universities in the Costa Rican information and communication technologies cluster. It examines both the social and the economic reasons for forming or participating in linkages, ranging from the capabilities of potential partners to compliance with customs. The research is based on qualitative information collected over four years through more than 150 direct and detailed interviews with different stakeholders in the cluster. Costa Rica is often used as a positive benchmark of cluster policy in Latin America, but it is argued here that linkages among firms in the sector have developed much more slowly than anticipated.

Spanish abstract

Este artículo estudia los obstáculos que dificultan la formación de vínculos inter-organizativos de colaboración entre firmas locales, corporaciones multinacionales y universidades en las agrupaciones de tecnologías de información y comunicación. El material examina las razones tanto sociales como económicas para formar o participar en tales vínculos, que van desde la capacidad de los asociados potenciales hasta el acatar las costumbres de los miembros participantes. La investigación se basa en información cualitativa recolectada durante más de cuatro años a través de más de 150 entrevistas directas y detalladas con diferentes participantes en la agrupación. Costa Rica es utilizada con frecuencia como un punto positivo de comparación sobre las políticas de asociaciones en Latinoamérica, pero se señala aquí que los vínculos entre las firmas en el sector se han desarrollado más lentamente de lo anticipado.

Portuguese abstract

Este artigo estuda os obstáculos que impedem a formação de conexões inter-organizacionais colaborativas entre empresas locais, corporações multinacionais e universidades no cluster (‘agrupamento’) de tecnologia da informação e comunicação de Costa Rica. Examina tanto motivações sociais quanto econômicas para criar ou participar em conexões que variam desde as capacidades de parceiros em potencial à observância de costumes. A pesquisa baseia-se em informações qualitativas coletadas ao longo de quatro anos através de mais de 150 entrevistas diretas e detalhadas com diversas partes interessadas no cluster. Costa Rica frequentemente é citada como exemplo positivo de políticas cluster para a América Latina, porém argumenta-se aqui que conexões entre empresas no setor têm sido desenvolvidas em rítmo muito mais lento do que o previsto.

Keywords

ICT clusterslinkagesCosta RicaLatin Americamultinationalsasociaciones TICvínculosCosta RicaLatinoaméricamultinacionalesclusters TICconexõesCosta RicaAmérica Latinamultinacionais
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Latin American Studies , Volume 44 , Issue 3 , August 2012 , pp. 553 - 580
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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