This study investigates the impacts of regional characteristics on the early-stage performance of New Technology-Based Firms (NTBFs) in catch-up regions where a mature industrial cluster has yet to be formed. It hypothesized that the average NTBF performance in a region is a function of its scientist job market conditions, cultural diversity, venture capital, academic research, industrial structure, and local entrepreneurial climate. Using the events of Initial Public Offerings (IPO) and Merger & Acquisitions (M&A) as an indicator of early-stage success of NTBFs, this study constructs a set of Zero-Inflated-Negative-Binomial (ZINB) models to predict the spatial distribution of such events in the U.S. biopharmaceutical and Information Technology (IT) service industries during the period from 1996 to 2005. Several empirical findings emerge from this study. First, the local entrepreneurial climate plays a significant and positive role on NTBF performance in both industries. Second, the positive impact of cultural diversity is more significant in the IT service industry than in the biopharmaceutical industry. Third, the scientist job market size and absolute salary level have positive impacts on NTBF performance, but the effect of relative salary level is negative. Fourth, proximity to venture capital firms has positive but non-linear effects, but the adverse effect of excess venture capital is stronger in the IT service industry. Fifth, there is little evidence of the direct effects of academic research in determining the NTBF performance in both industries. Finally, industrial specialization is significant and positive only in the IT service industry. The results suggest that promoting local entrepreneurial climate and cultural diversity are two effective policy instruments for catch-up regions to foster their NTBF growth.

published_or_final_version / Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering / Master / Master of Philosophy

Αντικείμενο της παρούσας διδακτορικής διατριβής είναι να εξετάσει τους παράγοντες που επηρεάζουν την καινοτόμο δραστηριότητα των μικρομεσαίων επιχειρήσεων στις απομακρυσμένες αγροτικές περιοχές της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης θέτοντας ερευνητικά ερωτήματα που σχετίζονται με την ανάπτυξη και υποστήριξη της καινοτομίας στην περιφέρεια. Για την πραγματοποίηση της έρευνας επιλέχθηκαν δώδεκα περιοχές μελέτης που βρίσκονται σε έξι χώρες της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης. Σε κάθε μια από τις έξι χώρες που συμμετείχαν στην έρευνα, επιλέχθηκε μια περιοχή με σχετικά καλή οικονομική απόδοση λαμβανομένου υπόψη του μειονεκτήματος λόγω της απομακρυσμένης της θέσης (περιοχή Α), και μια περιοχή σχετικά προσβάσιμη (περιοχή Β) με οικονομική απόδοση αντίστοιχη με αυτή της περιοχής Α. Οι περιοχές είναι οι εξής: Shetland (Α) και East Ayrshire (Β) στη Σκωτία, Keski- Suomi (Α) και Satakunta (Β) στη Φινλανδία, L’Alcoià (Α) και Camp de Morvedre (Β) στην Ισπανία, Rottal-Inn (Α) και Bitburg-Prüm (Β) στη Γερμανία, Ευρυτανία (Α) και Καλάβρυτα (Β) στην Ελλάδα και Midwest Clare (Α) και Southeast Wexford (Β) στην Ιρλανδία. Τα δεδομένα προήλθαν από 600 συνολικά επιχειρήσεις (50 από κάθε περιοχή) και συλλέχθηκαν με τη βοήθεια ερωτηματολογίων και μέσω προσωπικών συνεντεύξεων στα πλαίσια ενός ερευνητικού προγράμματος χρηματοδοτούμενου από την Ε.Ε. (AsPIRE: Aspatial Peripherality, Innovation and the Rural Economy). Η διδακτορική διατριβή είναι χωρισμένη σε τρία μέρη. Στο πρώτο μέρος δίνεται καταρχήν ο ορισμός της καινοτομίας και πραγματοποιείται μια ανασκόπηση της διεθνούς βιβλιογραφίας για την καινοτομία και την κατανομή της στο χώρο. Στη συνέχεια αποτυπώνεται η επιρροή του χωρικού, τοπικού και μη τοπικού, περιβάλλοντος μιας επιχείρησης στην καινοτόμο δραστηριότητά της. Γίνεται η υπόθεση ότι η πρόσβαση των επιχειρήσεων σε μη- τοπικά περιβάλλοντα καθορίζει την πιθανότητα να εισάγουν οι επιχειρήσεις καινοτομία και ελέγχει το ποσοστό της συνολικής καινοτόμου δραστηριότητας μιας περιοχής. Τα αποτελέσματα δείχνουν ότι η καινοτόμος δραστηριότητα των επιχειρήσεων επηρεάζεται από παράγοντες που σχετίζονται με το άνοιγμα των τοπικών συστημάτων παραγωγής σε μη τοπικούς κόσμους. Τα δίκτυα επιχειρήσεων, το συσσωρευμένο επιχειρηματικό και ανθρώπινο κεφάλαιο, η γνώση και η εμπειρία που αποκτήθηκαν σε μη τοπικό επίπεδο, καθώς και η υπάρχουσα τοπική επιχειρηματική ιστορία ενισχύουν την ικανότητα των επιχειρήσεων να καινοτομούν και διευρύνουν την ικανότητα μάθησής τους. Το δεύτερο μέρος της διατριβής εξετάζει την επίδραση της χωροθέτησης των επιχειρήσεων στην καινοτόμο δραστηριότητά τους, τόσο σε μικρο- όσο και σε μακρο- επίπεδο. Στο μικροοικονομικό επίπεδο συνάγεται ότι η πιθανότητα εισαγωγής καινοτομίας είναι καλά προβλεπόμενη από παρατηρήσιμα επιχειρηματικά χαρακτηριστικά. Τα αποτελέσματα δείχνουν ότι οι πιο προσβάσιμες περιοχές παρουσιάζουν υψηλότερα ποσοστά καινοτόμου δραστηριότητας σε σχέση με τις λιγότερο προσβάσιμες. Στη συνέχεια η διαφορά στα ποσοστά καινοτόμου δραστηριότητας ανάμεσα στις περισσότερο και λιγότερο προσβάσιμες περιοχές αποδομείται σε εκείνη που οφείλεται σε παρατηρήσιμους και σε εκείνη που οφείλεται σε μη παρατηρήσιμους παράγοντες. Συμπεραίνεται ότι το μεγαλύτερο μέρος της διαφοράς των πιθανοτήτων να παρουσιάσει μία εταιρεία καινοτόμο δραστηριότητα αποδίδεται σε μη παρατηρήσιμους παράγοντες αποκαλύπτοντας έτσι την σοβαρή επίδραση του τοπικού περιβάλλοντος (όπως αυτό συλλαμβάνεται από την επίπτωση των μη-παρατηρήσιμων παραγόντων) στη καινοτομία. Κατά συνέπεια τα συμπεράσματα προτείνουν να είναι η πολιτική καινοτομίας για τις ΜΜΕ εξειδικευμένη στα ιδιαίτερα χαρακτηριστικά κάθε περιοχής και να στοχεύει στην ικανοποίηση των ιδιαίτερων αναγκών των επιχειρήσεων και στη διατήρηση και βελτίωση του τοπικού περιβάλλοντος καινοτομίας. Σε μακροοικονομικό επίπεδο γίνεται μια προσπάθεια καταγραφής κάποιων παραγόντων που ευθύνονται για την «Αχωρική Περιφερειακότητα». Αποδεικνύεται ότι η συμβατική περιφερειακότητα (μετρούμενη σε όρους προσβασιμότητας) δεν μπορεί από μόνη της να εξηγήσει τις παρατηρημένες μορφές απόστασης και την οικονομική ανάπτυξη. Ταυτόχρονα, υπάρχει ένας σημαντικός αριθμός απομακρυσμένων και σχετικά μη προσβάσιμων περιοχών που ξεπερνούν τα αναμενόμενα επίπεδα οικονομικής ανάπτυξης, καθώς και ένας επίσης σημαντικός αριθμός περισσότερο προσβάσιμων περιοχών που παρουσιάζουν αρκετά μικρότερα από τα αναμενόμενα επίπεδα οικονομικής ανάπτυξης. Αποδεικνύεται ότι οι παράγοντες της αχωρικής περιφερειακότητας είναι εκείνοι που ευθύνονται για την απόκλιση των περιφερειών από τη συμβατική σχέση τοποθεσίας και επιπέδου ανάπτυξης. Τέτοιοι παράγοντες είναι για παράδειγμα η λειτουργία χωρικά οριζόντιων και κάθετων επιχειρηματικών δικτύων. Τέλος, το τρίτο μέρος της διατριβής ασχολείται με την επίδραση της καινοτομίας στην απόδοση των επιχειρήσεων και πιο συγκεκριμένα με την επίδραση της καινοτομίας προϊόντος στις επενδύσεις σε πάγια περιουσιακά στοιχεία. Τα αποτελέσματα δείχνουν ότι η εισαγωγή καινοτομίας προϊόντος μειώνει την πιθανότητα πραγματοποίησης επενδύσεων σε πάγια περιουσιακά στοιχεία. Ένα άλλο συμπέρασμα είναι ότι το μέγεθος της επιχείρησης ασκεί μια ιδιαίτερα σύνθετη επίδραση στην πιθανότητα πραγματοποίησης επενδύσεων. Η επίδραση αυτή αποτελείται από δυο συνθετικά μέρη, μια μορφής ανεστραμμένου U άμεση επίδραση του μεγέθους της επιχείρησης στην πιθανότητα για πραγματοποίηση επενδύσεων και μια έμμεση γραμμική επίδραση του μεγέθους στην πιθανότητα εισαγωγής καινοτομίας. Τα αποτελέσματα δείχνουν επίσης ότι το χάσμα στην πιθανότητα πραγματοποίησης επενδύσεων μεταξύ καινοτόμων και μη καινοτόμων επιχειρήσεων αυξάνεται με την αύξηση του μεγέθους. / The aim of this PhD Thesis is to examine the factors that influence the innovative activity of SMEs in peripheral and less favored areas of the European Union by posing research questions that relate to the development and support of innovation in this type of areas. In the framework of this research, survey data collected in twelve case study regions in six EU member states was used. Within each of the six participating member states, one region (Region A) was selected as a relatively peripheral region, perceived to be performing relatively well economically (given its locational disadvantages), and a second one (Region B) was selected as an example of a relatively accessible region with a perceived performance similar to that of Region A. These areas were Shetland (Α) and East Ayrshire (Β) in Scotland, Keski- Suomi (Α) and Satakunta (Β) in Finland, L’Alcoià (Α) and Camp de Morvedre (Β) in Spain, Rottal-Inn (Α) and Bitburg-Prüm (Β) in Germany, Evrytania (Α) and Kalavryta (Β) in Greece and Midwest Clare (Α) and Southeast Wexford (Β) in Ireland.This data was collected from 600 businesses (50 in each case study area) during 2003 for the EU Fifth Framework research project entitled “Aspatial Peripherality, Innovation and the Rural Economy” (AsPIRE). Data was collected through personal interviews with the firm’s owner or manager and with the use of questionnaires. The PhD Thesis is divided into three parts. In the first part there is a literature review on the definition of innovation and the dissemination of innovation through space. In a second step it is hypothesized that firms’ access to the non-local domain determines the probability to innovate and controls the rate of an area’s overall innovative activity. Results reveal that firms’ innovative activity is influenced by factors opening local production systems to the non-local world. Business networks, accumulated entrepreneurial human capital, knowledge and experience acquired non-locally and the embedded local business history enrich firms’ innovative capacities and shape the learning capacity of firms and localities. When local economic systems operate under national systems that are prone to innovation, these factors account less for the probability that a firm will innovate and vice versa. The second part of the thesis examines the effect of the peripheral location of firms on their innovativeness. It is concluded that the probability to innovate is well predicted by observable firm, entrepreneurial and business network characteristics. Results show that more accessible areas consistently present higher activity rates than their peripheral counterparts. The difference in innovation activity rates between peripheral and central areas is then decomposed into observable and non-observable factors. It arises that the whole innovation gap is attributed to non-observable factors constituting a combination of ‘behavior and environment’. Innovation policy for SMEs should thus aim at meeting businesses’ specific needs (firm-specific factors) and at sustaining and improving the innovation environment. Finally, the third part of this Thesis explores the relationship between product innovation and investments in fixed capital assets. Results show that the presence of product innovation reduces the probability to invest. Another result is that a firm’s size exerts a rather complicated effect on the probability to invest. This effect consists of a direct, inverted U-shape component of firm’s size on the probability to invest and an indirect component through the size’s linear effect on the probability to innovate. The gap in the probability to invest between innovative and non-innovative firms increases with size.

The purpose of this paper is to increase the understanding of how knowledge and uncertainty can affect relationship commitment between companies in the international market. Therefore, knowledge accumulation, the various levels of uncertainties and the creation of business relationships will be examined. In order to achieve the purpose of the study the main research problem is formulated: How do Knowledge and uncertainty levels related to relationship commitment of internationalized firms?This thesis is based on the qualitative method since the aim of this study is to understand and analyse a phenomenon not quantitatively to measure it. This research is further based on the deductive approach since we have formulated our main research question on the basis of previous theory and apply it on real life cases. The empirical data is collected through a multiple case study with three companies active on the international market.The study's conclusion indicates that relationship commitment has an impact on knowledge and uncertainty in the international context. We demonstrate this by proving that companies can through relationships accumulate the necessary knowledge needed to reduce uncertainty in international business. Thus reducing the gap between knowledge possessed by the firm and knowledge needed to perform an international activity.

Tourism is increasingly being used as a tool to stimulate regional development in rural areas. Small tourism enterprises (STE) lie at the heart of the industry and form a major part of the tourism sector. Characterised by flexible organisational structures and small size, STE are well positioned to respond to a growing demand for unique personalised visitor experiences. Information and communications technologies (ICT) enhance access to information, improve the efficiency of business activities and promote networking between businesses, community and travellers at the local, regional and international level.Western Southland is a predominantly rural region in the far south of New Zealand. Promoting the development of a cohesive tourism industry in the Western Southland region will benefit individual operators, their communities and the region as a whole. Using the case of Western Southland, this study explores the profile and characteristics of STE; their perceptions of the value of networking and collaboration, and their attitudes towards and use of ICT. Also considered are the implications of STE attitudes and behaviour in relation to the New Zealand Tourism Strategy and the New Zealand Digital Strategy goals in shaping regional development. A variety of business and community stakeholders are part of the broader case study contributing a rich understanding of the dynamics of the region. A mixed method approach is used to collect data through a series of semi-structured interviews and a survey. Key findings show that limited planned networking is occurring and there is a need to increase STE awareness of the benefits of collaborative activities in order to promote active engagement with other STE. Existing networks are found to be largely informal and embedded in the social and cultural context of communities. The level of ICT use by STE varies, and considerable support is required to encourage operators to upskill. National development goals promote ideals of sustainable communities and businesses, and are aligned with what operators envisage for their region.

How can small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) compete over time within international networks? This thesis takes a stance in that business network relationships are essential for international SMEs as such networks can provide knowledge and learning opportunities. International network competitiveness is, in this thesis, introduced as a concept that captures SMEs long term performance, resulting from the firms being competitive within international business networks. This thesis thereafter proposes that an analytical framework of International network competitiveness, can promote the study of SMEs' long term performance within international networks. The thesis subsequently acknowledges that SMEs frequently need to develop a combination of technical- and foregin market knowledge so as to stay competitive within international networks. In fact, technical knowledge development is central for an increasingly wider selection of firms, not only high tech firms. By investigating the function of co-innovation (innovation together with network partners), for the proposed components of international network competitiveness, the thesis demonstrate that innovation has intriguing and central functions for the international network competitiveness of SMEs. / <p>Diss. Stockholm :  Stockholm School of Economics, 2014. Introduction together with 4 articles. At the time of the disputation the articles had the status accepted</p>

Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Clustering has emerged as one of the drivers for economic growth and improved competitiveness for specific industries. In order for cluster initiatives to be successful, they need to be managed in a certain way. The importance of excellent cluster management has been increasingly realised in the past years. Certain factors of cluster management are considered to lead to success in the management of cluster initiatives as identified in published research. In the same vain, certain aspects of cluster program management are considered to lead to success. A cluster program run by the Western Cape Provincial Government (WCPG) in South Africa is analysed and compared to the generic success factors in cluster program management. Selected cluster initiatives in the Western Cape are analysed and compared with each other as well as to these success factors in cluster management. The Western Cape Tooling Initiative (WCTI), a cluster initiative in the tool, die and mould making industry, is analysed in more detail, and compared to the other cluster initiatives, all of which but one are part of the cluster program. WCTI is found to not have been following success factors in cluster management, and the rate of progress of the WCTI from when it was started supports that fact. However, recent changes in the leadership of the cluster initiative have brought about changes in WCTI’s cluster management emphasis and signs of increased success can be noticed, even though the full effect will not be felt until after some years as success in cluster management takes years to be realised. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Trosvervaardiging het in die onlangse verlede ontwikkel tot een van die drywers vir ekonomiese groei en verhoogde kompeterendheid in spefifieke industrië. Tros inisiatiewe vereis ‘n spesifieke bestuursraamwerk om hulle potensiaal te bereik, en die belangrikheid van uitstekende bestuurspraktyke word al hoe meer beklemtoon. Sekere faktore, beskryf in literatuur, van bestuur bleik te lei na sukses in die bestuur van sulke inisiatiewe. Op ‘n soortgelyke basis is daar aspekte van trosprogram bestuur wat voorvereistes vir sukses is. ‘n Trosprogram onder leiding van die Wes Kaapse Provinsiale Regering in Suid Afrika word analiseer en vergelyk met die generiese sukses faktore van trosprogrambestuur. Verskeie trosinisiatiewe in die Wes Kaap word ondersoek en met mekaar vergelyk asook gemeet aan hierdie suksesfaktore. Meer spesifiek word die “Western Cape Tooling Initiative” (WCTI) in meer detail analiseer, en vergelyk met die ander inisiatiewe wat almal, met een uitsondering, deel is van die trosprogram self. Daar is gevind dat die WCTI nie streng volgens die riglyne en/of binne die raamwerk van suksesvolle trosbestuur opgetree het nie, en dit word gestaaf deur die relatief lae sukseskoers tot dusver. Met die onlangse veranderinge aan die leierskap van die inisiatief bleik dit egter dat meer aandag aan hierdie praktyke gegee word, en daar is tekens van ‘n verbetering in die prestasie van die program. Die volle effek van hierdie veranderinge sal egter ‘n rukkie neem om volledig tot uitwerking te kom.

No presente trabalho, propõe-se um modelo para mensurar a eficiência das empresas que participam das Redes de Cooperação Horizontal (RCH), utilizando a técnica DEA (Data Envelopment Analysis) e admitindo retornos variáveis de escala para cálculo do índice de Malmquist. A investigação da literatura apontou falta de estudos quantitativos que comprovem as vantagens competitivas das empresas que cooperam em rede. Esta falta moveu o desenvolvimento do método que foi aplicado em empresas de uma RCH hoteleira situada na Ilha do Mel, sul do Brasil. Dados de inputs e outputs referentes a um período de cinco anos (2011 a 2015) foram coletados de quinze empresas, sendo cinco participantes e dez não participantes da rede. A análise dos resultados demonstrou que, após a fundação da rede, algumas empresas participantes levaram um ano para se tornaram referências (benchmarks). Apesar de o estudo apontar a queda de produtividade para todas as unidades de tomada de decisão (DMU), a decomposição do índice de Malmquist revelou ganhos de eficiência nas empresas participantes da rede, confirmando estatisticamente a hipótese levantada. Além de contribuir para a construção do modelo de quantificação, este estudo pode ser utilizado como método de comparação, auxiliando a governança a identificar DMU com dificuldades e elaborar práticas para melhor manutenção da rede. / In the present study, a model is proposed to measure the efficiency of the companies that participate in the Horizontal Cooperation Networks (RCH), using the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) technique and admitting variable returns of scale to calculate the Malmquist index. A literature search pointed to the lack of quantitative studies that prove the competitive advantages of the companies that cooperate in the network. This motivated the development of the method that was applied in a RCH hotel located in Ilha do Mel, southern Brazil. Data on inputs and outputs were collected over a period of five years (2011 to 2015), in fifteen companies, with five participants and ten non-participants in the network. The analysis of the results showed that after the founding of the network, some participating companies took a year to become reference benchmarks. Although the study indicates a decrease in productivity for all decision-making units (DMU), the decomposition of the Malmquist index revealed efficiency gains in the companies participating in the network, confirming statistically the hypothesis raised. In addition to contributing to the construction of the quantification model, this study can be used as a comparison method, helping the governance to identify DMU with difficulties and to elaborate practices for better maintenance of the network.

Cette thèse fournit au lecteur un recueil d'applications de la théorie des graphes ; à ce but, des outils sur mesure, adaptés aux applications considérées, ont été conçus et mis en œuvre de manière inspirée par les données.Dans la première partie, une nouvelle métrique de centralité, nommée “bridgeness”, est présentée, basée sur une décomposition de la centralité intermédiaire (“betweenness centrality”) standard. Une composante, la “connectivité locale”, correspondante approximativement au degré d'un noeud, est différenciée de l'autre, qui, en revanche, évalue les propriétés structurelles à longue distance. En effet, cette dernière fournit une mesure de l'efficacité de chaque noeud à “relayer” parties faiblement connectées d'un réseau ; une caractéristique importante de cette métrique est son agnosticisme en ce qui concerne la structure de la communauté sous jacente éventuelle.Une deuxième application vise à décrire les caractéristiques dynamiques des graphes temporels qui apparaissent au niveau mésoscopique. L'ensemble de données de choix comprend 40 ans de publications scientifiques sélectionnées. L'apparition et l'évolution dans le temps d'un domaine d'étude spécifique (les ondelettes) sont capturées, en discriminant les caractéristiques persistantes des artefacts transitoires résultants du processus de détection des communautés, intrinsèquement bruité, effectué indépendamment sur des instantanées statiques successives. La notion de “flux laminaire”, sur laquelle repose le “score de complexité” que nous cherchons à optimiser, est présentée.Dans le même ordre d'idées, un réseau d'investisseurs japonais a été construit, sur la base d'un ensemble de données qui comprend des informations (indirectes) sur les filiales étrangères en copropriété. Une question très débattue dans le domaine de l'économie industrielle, l'hypothèse de Miwa-Ramseyer, a été démontrée de manière concluante comme fausse, du moins sous sa forme forte. / This thesis provides the reader with a compendium of applications of network theory; tailor-madetools suited for the purpose have been devised and implemented in a data-driven fashion. In the first part, a novel centrality metric, aptly named “bridgeness”, is presented, based on adecomposition of the standard betweenness centrality. One component, local connectivity, roughlycorresponding to the degree of a node, is set apart from the other, which evaluates longer-rangestructural properties. Indeed, the latter provides a measure of the relevance of each node in“bridging” weakly connected parts of a network; a prominent feature of the metric is its agnosticism with regard to the eventual ground truth community structure.A second application is aimed at describing dynamic features of temporal graphs which are apparent at the mesoscopic level. The dataset of choice includes 40 years of selected scientific publications.The appearance and evolution in time of a specific field of study (“wavelets”) is captured,discriminating persistent features from transient artifacts, which result from the intrinsically noisy community detection process, independently performed on successive static snapshots. The concept of “laminar stream”, on which the “complexity score” we seek to optimize is based, is introduced.In a similar vein, a network of Japanese investors has been constructed, based on a dataset which includes (indirect) information on co-owned overseas subsidiaries. A hotly debated issue in the field of industrial economics, the Miwa-Ramseyer hypothesis, has been conclusively shown to be false, at least in its strong form.

The aim of this study was to analyze the territorialization of the manufacturing of embroidery in Sergipe, focusing on its relations to the labour networks, flows and subordination processes. To investigate the territorialization of embroidery in Sergipe involves analyzing the behaviors of the communities that are settled in the territories in which the embroidery is manufactured. Geography is used in this context as a scientific tool for understanding the differentiation of places, territories, and regions as products of the relationships among men themselves and between men and nature. Procedures of this study, based on the hypotheticaldeductive method, were divided into three stages: 1) desk job, 2) fieldwork, and 3) synthesis. The first step included a literature review, consulting companies related to embroidery (SEBRAE, SEDETEC, and Associations) and mapping. The second step included the use of questionnaires, interviews and photo records. The third stage corresponded to the data analysis. Results confirmed the hypothesis that the territorialization of the manufacturing of embroidery in the state of Sergipe, in the way it has been established over the years, favors the development of |territories of exploitation|. In these territories, socially and economically less favorable actors are dominated and exploited as abundant and cheap labour by actors who somehow stand out for having the economic, social and political means to the appropriation of the territory, using it for satisfying their needs. / O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a territorialização da confecção de bordados em Sergipe, relacionando-a com as redes, fluxos e a subordinação do trabalho. Investigar a territorialização do bordado sergipano envolve analisar o comportamento das comunidades assentadas nos territórios em que o bordado se processa. A Geografia é utilizada nesse contexto como ferramenta científica para o entendimento da diferenciação de lugares, territórios e regiões como produto das relações travadas entre os homens e destes com a própria natureza. Os procedimentos deste estudo, sob a orientação do método hipotético dedutivo, foram divididos em três etapas: 1) trabalho de gabinete, 2) trabalho de campo e 3) síntese. A primeira etapa incluiu a revisão de literatura, a consulta a instituições relacionadas ao bordado (SEBRAE, SEDETEC e Associações) e o levantamento cartográfico. A segunda etapa incluiu a aplicação de questionários, a realização de entrevistas e o registro fotográfico. A terceira etapa correspondeu à análise dos dados coletados. Os resultados alcançados confirmaram a hipótese de que a territorialização da confecção de bordados no estado de Sergipe, da forma como tem se estabelecido ao longo dos anos, favorece a construção de territórios de exploração . Nestes territórios, os atores menos favorecidos econômica e socialmente são dominados e explorados como mão de obra farta e barata pelos atores que de alguma forma se destacam por deterem meios econômicos, sociais e políticos que lhes conferem os mecanismos necessários à apropriação do território, usando-o para a satisfação de suas necessidades.