Introduction

International competitiveness and industrial growth are essential elements of a country’s development process. Their attainment is aided by correct macroeconomic policies to induce the exploitation of the country’s static and dynamic comparative advantages. In addition, a body of recent research has emphasized the microeconomic dimension of comparative advantage (CA) that relies also on the existence and the upgrading of local capabilities and in particular of ‘technological capabilities’ (TCs) related to technology operation and improvements.