2004年-世界发展银行全球_Chile___A_Strategy_to_Promote_Innovative_Small_and_Medium_Enterprises_97页_902kb

Chile: A Strategy to Promote Innovative Small and Medium Enterprises

Core Content

This report, prepared by the World Bank, evaluates Chile's current support mechanisms for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and proposes a reorientation of the government's strategy to enhance SME productivity and competitiveness. It outlines key challenges and opportunities for improving the SME sector, drawing on international benchmarks and Chilean-specific data.

Main Viewpoints

• Chile's Economic Success: Chile has achieved strong GDP growth (5.9% annually from 1990 to 2002) through structural reforms in export facilitation, competition policy, and financial sector development. However, the SME sector remains underperforming and is not a major driver of growth or employment.
• SME Constraints: SMEs in Chile are often trapped in a low-level equilibrium, unable to improve productivity due to poor networking, insufficient in-firm training, and low investment in technology. These constraints hinder their ability to compete globally and adapt to economic changes.
• Need for Reform: The current SME support framework is inefficient, lacks coordination, and focuses on keeping SMEs afloat rather than transforming them. The report recommends reorienting support toward productivity, innovation, and better integration into national and global markets.
• Role of Government: The government should act as a facilitator rather than a direct provider of support. It should promote linkages between SMEs and large firms, encourage technology adoption, and provide incentives for structural changes that enhance competitiveness.
• International Benchmarking: Successful OECD countries have focused on creating dynamic networks, streamlining support programs, and aligning innovation systems with the private sector to foster growth and efficiency.

Key Information

I. Constraints to SME Efficiency

• Low Productivity: SMEs have significantly lower labor and capital efficiency compared to large firms.
• Poor Networking: Most SMEs operate in isolation, lacking the business networks that could enhance productivity and profitability.
• Inadequate Training: While Chile has a strong culture of in-firm training, the outreach and effectiveness of training programs are limited.
• Limited Technology Investment: Chile invests only 0.7% of GDP in R&D, far below OECD levels. SMEs cite time, cost, absorptive capacity, and technical expertise as barriers to technology adoption.

II. SME Support Programs in Chile

• CORFO: A leader in Latin America for credit and guarantee schemes, but lacks systematic monitoring of costs and benefits. It operates through intermediaries, which can limit strategic input and may not always align with business needs.
• INDAP: Historically focused on retail-level support, but should shift to a second-tier role, supporting existing financial intermediaries. This would improve efficiency and reduce administrative costs.
• SERCOTEC: Provides innovative services to non-agricultural SMEs but overlaps with CORFO programs. It needs a clearer strategic role and greater independence to effectively support SMEs.

III. Recommendations

• Streamline the Portfolio: Reduce the number of SME support programs from nearly 100 to 30 grant and 13 credit programs, ensuring better coordination and focus.
• Promote Transformation: Redirect incentives to encourage SMEs to adopt new technologies and improve management practices.
• Implement Results-Based Tracking: Develop a comprehensive system to monitor the outcomes of SME programs and reallocate resources based on effectiveness.
• Enhance Public Financing: Improve the efficiency and reach of public financing assistance to support SMEs in their development.
• Strengthen Innovation Links: Integrate SMEs into a national innovation system that links research, education, and the private sector to foster technological innovation and better-trained personnel.

Conclusion

The report emphasizes that a coordinated, results-driven approach is necessary to transform the SME sector into a dynamic and innovative part of Chile's economy. By redefining the role of institutions like CORFO, INDAP, and SERCOTEC, and by promoting better integration with national and global markets, Chile can significantly enhance SME productivity and competitiveness.