Internationalization and innovation: a longitudinal analysis of South American countries

Abstract

The aim of this study is to analyze indicators of scientific and economic development of countries in South America. This is a descriptive, quantitative research, based on longitudinal analysis of the main indicators of internationalization and innovation of South American countries. Data collection was documentary and included variables related to exports, investments in knowledge and technological infrastructure, and inflow of direct foreign investment. The results indicate that the internationalization of business is associated with the capacity for innovation. Maintaining industrial competitiveness is critical and one of the main challenges for internationalization, reinforcing that the adoption of new technologies and the qualification of the workforce strengthen investment and impact on the trade relations of countries. In conclusion, this study indicates that export variables, knowledge, and direct investment have an impact on the internationalization of business and are strongly associated with the innovative capacity of industries in the analyzed countries.