Innovation and performance in small manufacturing firms: results of an empirical research

This paper presents the results of an empirical study on a sample of 165 small manufacturing firms located in the north-east of Italy. The main research topics are the innovation processes within these small units and their relationships with the firm’s performance and structural aspects. The study depicts the technological, organizational and managerial profile of the sample, shows the most significant relationships between practice and performance, and verifies the presence of clusters of firms characterized by specific performance objectives, practices adopted and structural aspects.