(146-159) The determinants of innovation capability in Nigeria

Abstract: Although there is a substantial body of literature on technological capabilities and innovation in general, in-depth understanding of the technological behaviour of manufacturing enterprises in the developing country context is still largely limited. What factors influence them to innovate? What should be the concern of policy makers and practitioners in enhancing firm-level innovativeness? The study reported herein attempted to answer these questions using microlevel data from the cable and wire manufacturing subsector in Nigeria. Focusing on product and process innovations, measures were constructed to assess the factors that significantly influence the incidence of product and process innovations. Our results point out that linkage and collaboration are more important than firm-related variables in promoting an innovation capability. Ultimately, this suggests that policies need to be directed at facilitating partnerships within the National Innovation System (NIS) and that firms need to consciously pursue and engage in collaborations and linkages.