Completed under contract no. The objective of this study is to investigate the factors that contribute to small business innovative success. The research is directed toward enhancing the innovative capabilities of small businesses. In addition, the study explores the spatial patterns of innovation by analyzing the distribution of innovation among metropolitan areas and attempts to determine the most innovative cities.
Small firms appear to have developed close relationships with their customers and their suppliers.
These linkages provide ideas for new product innovation but even more importantly, provide sources of expertise that further the commercialization process and contribute to small firm innovative success. Innovation for the small company is the product of collaboration with research agencies, technical institutions, suppliers, equipment manufacturers, customers and even competitors. Small companies are also frequently organized around a new product innovation. Small companies create a niche for themselves by providing products or services that are too specialized for larger corporations to supply profitably. Northern New Jersey, and Philadelphia-Wilmington.