Innovative Enterprises and Regional Economic Systems. The case of Canton Ticino

摘要

Based on the literature and on empirical evidence provided by the analysis of the Canton Ticino's economic system, the paper explores how innovative enterprises can contribute to the competitiveness of a local economic system. Innovative companies are able to introduce innovations in strategic positioning, operational effectiveness and organizational process and context. Thanks to these flows of innovations they can remain competitive and achieve a profitable growth within a current competitive environment characterised by discontinuity, instability and uncertainty. Innovative enterprises can play a fundamental role in enhancing local Economies' competitiveness, thus helping the Canton Ticino to face the challenge of economic and social development. Visibility and creation of social consensus around the model of innovative enterprise can stimulate emulation which contributes to the diffusion of innovative business models. Political and institutional actors play a major role in managing processes targeted to create visibility and social consensus around innovative entrepreneurial values and culture.