This article attempts to understand the dynamics of learning and innovation in the context of cooperation networks among small and medium-sized enterprises. We seek to answer the following question: does cooperation in networks enable learning and innovation within the associated companies? The article is based on theoretical reflections of authors which indicate that learning and innovation are moving from a unidirectional, individual and endogenous process of the isolated company to an open, multidirectional, collaborative, and networked process. The study was carried out in two stages of data collection, the first was a focus group and the second was a survey of a sample of 816 companies associated to cooperation networks. The main findings emphasized that older networks with more businesses associated and from the commercial sector showed better performance concerning the adoption of new practices and the launch of new products and services.
Learning; Innovation; Cooperation; Networks; Small and medium-sized enterprises