Inovação no setor alimentício do Nordeste: o caso do estado de Pernambuco

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to analyze the food industry, considered one of the largest and most important for the Brazilian economy, with results in terms of higher industry billings. As a result of constant changes in consumer tastes and preferences, this industrial sector has been seeking through innovation, to improve products and / or processes; or even in creating something new for the company or market. The present work intends to trace the innovation profile in the food industry of the Northeast, emphasizing the state of Pernambuco. The method used to achieve this is, first of all, a bibliographical revision of the neoschumpeterian and evolutionist theory; and then a quantitative and descriptive analysis, based on secondary data provided by the PINTEC - IBGE database, for the period from 2001 to 2014. For this purpose, the analysis will include expenditures on R & D, the characteristics of the employed labor force in the food industry and in policies to support and encourage innovation. The paper seeks to show the truth of the hypothesis defined here, which defends the idea that there is insufficiency or inefficiency of governmental policies and programs aimed at innovation in the food industry of the Northeast region, especially in the state of Pernambuco. As a result, it was observed that in Pernambuco, the government participates minimally in financing internal R & D activities. In addition, the state presents a labor force with a volume of qualified professionals lower than Ceará, for example. However, the state's food industry is strong and flexible, funding its own activities and adapting to its difficulties