Ondas de evolución y nudos tecnológicos: una contribución a los estudios sobre internacionalización y capacidad tecnológica en Brasil

摘要

This paper aims to examine the implications of the internationalization process and trajectory of accumulation of technological capabilities of Companhia Igua?u de Café Solúvel in the period between 1967 and 2009. To achieve the proposed objective, an extensive literature research about the internationalization and technological capacity theories was performed. For this paper, the authors used the Internationalization model of Brazilian exporting producer companies built by Kraus (2006) and Technological capabilities model in emerging economies companies formulated by Figueiredo (2004). In order to develop this study with longitudinal characteristic, it was built one model to analyze and characterize the stages of internationalization as well as one descriptive taxonomy of technological capabilities specific to the soluble coffee industry divided into five functions (Product, Process, Equipment, Investment and R&D). For this development, it required extensive research with data triangulated by theory, inter views, on-site obser vation and technical documents. The conclusion of these models, as well as its validation only was possible through the contributions and opinions from experts from soluble coffee industry, researchers and professors interested in technological innovation, technical change and internationalization themes. With the evidences collected supported by theory and models, it was possible to describe the internationalization process of the firm and trace the trajectory of technological capability of Igua?u for the five functions studied. Performing a reflection of this influence, and supported in the analysis of level change and overtaking of the technological frontier, two phenomena were found; and with it, the suggestion of the name and concept ?Waves of evolution and technology knots?