The strategic management of innovation in the Brazilian clothing market has found certain barriers, especially regarding product development in micro and small enterprises. Local Productive Arrangements (LPAs) have been used by organizations as a strategy to overcome this difficulty. This research presents a multi-case study on five LPAs in the State of Parana with four or more years of existence. The total sample consisted of 20 business agents of governance, including presidents of unions and organized associations responsible for Research and Development (R &D) projects. The study examined R&D actions presented in the strategic planning arrangements from the consolidation strategies and the Routes of Strategic Project roadmapping for the future of this sector in the State of Parana. Several difficulties were found in the innovation chain process, especially related to the management of joint product development by contractors and cooperation of suppliers and public policies to encourage R&D in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Innovation strategy; Product development management; Confection; Local productive arrangements
