Avaliação da atuação do Kariri Valley no cariri cearense: um estudo de caso

Abstract

Innovation ecosystems have gained prominence as environments that bring together different actors and institutions around the generation and dissemination of innovative solutions, becoming essential mechanisms for the innovative performance of different actors and for the development of regions. In this context, innovation communities emerge as initiatives aimed at strengthening connections and promoting collaboration among the various actors that make up these ecosystems. In the Cariri Metropolitan Region, the Kariri Valley emerges as an initiative aimed at promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in the regional context. However, there is a scarcity of systematized information and academic studies that allow for a clearer understanding of its structure, its actors, and its practices in the region. Therefore, this study aims to present and describe the Kariri Valley in light of its relevance to the Cariri Metropolitan Region, seeking to answer the following question: How is the Kariri Valley configured and what is its role in the Cariri Metropolitan Region? The research is an exploratory case study with a qualitative-quantitative approach, and was developed through semi-structured interviews and the application of a hybrid questionnaire. The results indicate that the Kariri Valley plays a relevant role in the Cariri region of Ceará, contributing to the dynamism of relations between local actors and stimulating entrepreneurship and innovation, but it still presents limitations regarding its structure, institutional formalization, and interactions with some of the actors involved. This study contributes to broadening the understanding of the role of the Kariri Valley in the innovative context of the Cariri Metropolitan Region.