Managing of technology in Mexican firms: the case of Instituto Bioclon

Mexican innovative firms have to operate in a rather adverse environment because innovation policy offers little support. For that reason, studying firm´s innovation strategies is very important to shed light on how small firms can innovate and participate in global markets of high technology products even in a weak policy environment. This paper presents a case study of Instituto Bioclon, a Mexican SME producing antidotes against venoms of poisonous animals. Instituto Bioclon´s success is based on its model to manage innovation. This model relies on the creation of a wide network of collaboration with research institutions, opinion leaders and health specialists, complemented by internal capacities on technology and knowledge management, such as competitive intelligence, project management, IPR protection, training, knowledge sharing and market development. This forms a first class technology base with a strong market orientation. The model is analyzed taking into account its most important variables and trying to draw lessons for technology development and diffusion in other SMEs operating in developing countries