Innovation Diffusion in the European Ceramic Tile Industry Supply Chain

Abstract

Following Nelson's primary typology of enterprises based on a characterization of their technical change process (bulk commodities; complex systems producers; and chemical products producers) this chapter presents a case study on the innovation diffusion in the European tile industry based on the analysis of its manufacturing process and supply chain. The producers of ceramic tiles, the machinery producers and the frits and glazes producers fit each of Nelson's categories. Further, the European ceramic tile industry is clustered in two southern European regions: Emilia Romagna (Sassuolo – Italy) and Valencia Region (Castelló de la Plana – Spain) with a different configuration of the type of predominant companies within the cluster but also regarding surrounding clusters. This relative specialization, the interactions between surrounding clusters, and the strong interlink supplier-producer between both ceramic tile clusters make the study of the innovation diffusion in the European ceramic tile industry supply chain an interesting case.