Considering that different strategies are used by the organizations to increase their performance through innovation, this study had the objective of identifying the learning connections between an R&D institute and in goat small companies of the local innovation system, tends as base the following question: can R&D institutes work as technological gatekeepers providing new knowledge to the companies under study? For that, the theoretical mark of the study was elaborated based on the discussions about strategies and innovation systems, also articulating the themes on research and development - R&D and the processes of corresponding learning. The methodology is based on the strategy of multi case study. The empiric data were examined according to the qualitative approach, being collected through semi-structured interviews, during participation in meetings and documentary analysis. In the researched companies, it was observed that, those firms still maintain incipient connections with the R&D institute. In the other hands, evidence showed that they are focusing on expanding the knowledge base of small businesses. It is also shown that these links are being expanded and potentiated learning by external and open sources between companies and other institutions of the system, which had catching-up innovation strategies as a base.
strategies; learning and innovation systems; R & D; small companies
