The role of informal R&D activities in the evaluation of the SMEs´ technological capability-the mechanics industry in Brazil

Technological information management is an efficient tool in the competitive context. It helps firms to find better solutions for production problems and new business possibilities. Usually, information about product and process innovation is generated and managed by R&D staff, but what about firms that do not have R&D structures? Do they also collect, choose and apply technological information? This paper investigates informal R&D activities in three SMEs (small manufacturing enterprises) within the mechanics industry in Brazil. Discussing topics such as innovation, learning, accumulation of knowledge and skills, technological changes and strategic positioning, we found that informal R&D activities are not continuous, but moved by need of solving problems. Most of new ideas are generated by blue-collar employees, using creativity, experience and knowledge. Research demonstrated the importance of informal R&D activities in technological capability analyses