Comparative Analysis of Clusters of Information Technology Firms in São Paulo, Campinas and Recife

Abstract

The aim of this article is to evaluate and compare clusters of Information Technology (IT) sector firms located in São Paulo, Campinas and Recife regions. This comparison is based in previous studies on these clusters and use databases on firms and university. It focuses on structural elements of the cluster (firms, university and government) and on the benefits of agglomeration (specialized suppliers and skilled workers and knowledge flows). The comparison highlights common elements and peculiarities of these clusters. Among the similarities are the preponderance of small and medium-sized companies in the software segment, the presence of leading universities and the dependence on public financing. In the field of particularities, it is evident the importance of the hardware industry in Campinas, the greater cohesion of Recife and the learning by customer-producer relationship in São Paulo.