Regional Horizontal Networks within the SME Agri-Food Sector: An Innovation and Social Network Perspective

McAdam M., McAdam R., Dunn A. and McCall C. Regional horizontal networks within the SME agri-food sector: an innovation and social network perspective, Regional Studies. This paper aims to explore how regional horizontal networks within the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) agri-food sector develop innovative capability and outcomes through the adoption of a combined innovation and social network perspective. To facilitate this, the Slow Food Network was deemed appropriate. A multiple case analysis was then used in order to explore 11 regional SME-based agri-food horizontal networks. The findings demonstrate that a complex life cycle development occurred within the regional SME networks. Such development required unique strategies of explorative and exploitative innovation-based knowledge exchange at different life cycle stages with resultant changes in network dynamics between the SMEs.