Innovation Systems from Below

“Innovation Systems from Below – An Actor-Centred Approach offers a clear, mechanism-based account of how firms and bridging institutions build capabilities and strategically couple to knowledge sources. Grounded in comparative cases from Brazil and Mexico, it refines systems-of-innovation thinking by putting actor agency and institutional mediation at the centre. A rigorous, policy-relevant contribution that will serve as a reliable reference for scholars and practitioners alike.”
—Danilo Spinola, Senior Lecturer in Economics, Birmingham City University, UK

Innovation systems research has long examined how markets and institutions shape innovation across different contexts. Yet this ‘top-down’ lens often overlooks the view from within: the firms and support organisations whose everyday strategies drive change. This book places these actors and their agency at the centre. Drawing on in-depth case studies of multinational enterprises and technology parks in Mexico and Brazil, it reveals how efforts to build capabilities, forge linkages, and adapt to constraints transform the wider system. Tracing the path from individual action to systemic change, it offers a fresh framework for understanding innovation in developing and middle-income contexts and beyond. Blending theory with grounded evidence, it provides clear insights for students, researchers, and practitioners in innovation management and policy.

Juan Carlos Mondragón Quintana is a Lecturer in International Business Policy at the University of Bristol Business School, UK, where he also directs the BSc in International Business Management. A Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and the Economy of Francesco Academy, he previously gained 15 years of professional experience in the public and private sectors. His research explores innovation systems, multinational enterprises, data governance, and the role of business and education in shaping more inclusive and ethical forms of capitalism.