Innovation: a strategy that leads to competitiveness in SMEs

Abstract

This study took place in Portugal and focuses on the importance of the innovative attitude towards the sustainability of companies. The aim is to define how Research, Development & Innovation (RDI) must to be followed by companies to attain competitiveness, which will allow them to remain and survive in the market. Once confirmed this belief it becomes interesting to acknowledge why innovation does not occur and what kind of barriers to innovation face the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) studied. Additionally is analysed the existence of similarities in the barriers observed in Portugal with studies carried out in other countries.