Innovation Activities and Export Performance of Canadian Small and Medium-Sized Agri-Food Firms /

The objective of this study is to analyze the impact of research and Development (R&D) investment on the export performance of Canadian agri-food companies and on that of related sectors, namely, the textile and clothing sector and the manufacture of leather goods and similar products. [...] The size of firms and their support from the Canadian government affect their propensity to invest in R&D, the value of R&D expenses and their intensity, as measured from the ratio of R&D to sales of goods and services. [...] For most of the industries, the main destination of Canadian processed food products is the USA, and the top ten importing countries received more than 90% of Canadian exports of processed food products. [...] In the present study, we focus on the definitions most recently developed in economics without losing sight of the contributions of previous definitions or of other disciplines to understanding the phenomenon of innovation. [...] It involves the new product, the new technology, the new market, the new material and the new combination.” This definition refers to tools used and to the purpose of innovation.