Collaborative networks for innovation in the meat supply chain

The main objective of this chapter is to gain a better understanding of the main processes concerning the development of innovation-related business relationships and networks by SMEs active in the meat supply chain. This analysis will place emphasis on two distinctive and inter-re- lated aspects: i) the “contextualised” dimension of SMEs and of their en- trepreneurial effort, with a focus on the arising of relationships also with non-business actors such as government organisations and Universities/ research centres; ii) the main patterns concerning resource access, de- velopment, and combination, in the light of SMEs’ limited capabilities.