Technological change and innovative potentialities of the Portuguese manufacturing industry

Abstract

The existence of differences in the levels of technological potential of the economies leads to the establishment of flows of technology between the various countries; the vast majority of these flows correspond to situations where the countries with higher potential serve as suppliers of technology. The relations that arise from this picture tend to increase the dependence of the recipients with regard to the producers of technology. The authors analyse the implications of this phenomenon using as framework the tipology of technological trajectories, discussing then the structural global aspects of the Portuguese manufacturing industries. Assuming that different activities incorporate technology differently, according to their own specific requirements and goals, three levels of technological intensity are defined fort the Portuguese manufacturing industries in 1982; a comparison is made between these indicators and the average values (1970-80) of 11 developed OECD countries. The authors conclude that a new strategy, based on an innovative endeavour with emphasis on the long term and minimi ng the vulnerability of the Portuguese industries needs to be defined. The implementation of this strategy will enable the growth of an autonomous innovative capacity and the strengthening of the capabilities of assimilation of foreign technologies.