CONTRIBUTION OF TECHNOLOGY PARKS ON THE COMPETITIVENESS OF COMPANIES: THE CASE OF TECNOPUC - RS

The technological evolution of recent decades, greatly represented by the development of the microelectronic-based Information Technology (IT) has caused changes in the competition process in different economic sectors, as well as in the organizations competitiveness, even in the IT companies. Otherwise, universities, research institutions and governments, among others, have promoted the structuring of Technological Parks, as a way of improving the regional development of specific economic segments, such as IT. Tecnopuc park, associated to the catholic university of Rio Grande do Sul state (PUCRS) is an example of this kind of parks. This research intends to analyze how does PUCRS Technological Park (Tecnopuc) contributes to the competitiveness of IT companies there settled. To reach the objective proposed in this work, a qualitative and explorative research was undertaken. Representatives of software development companies settled at Tecnopuc were interviewed, having as a framework the factors affecting the industry companies' competitiveness. As a result, it was identified that, considering the product and services developed by the companies settled there, as well as the corresponding markets where they operate, there are significant differences in the benefits they perceive the park brings and in the way such benefits affect their competitive factors. In addition, most of the interviewed companies have informed that they are settled at the Park aiming at the "status" attributed to their relationship with Tecnopuc Park.