Abstract
The literature on the National Systems of Innovation (NSI) is a relatively new field of research that has spread remarkably in the past 20 years. This article offers a complementary, quantitative description of the state-of-the-art of the literature based on bibliometric methods, by explicitly addressing the roots, evolution and influence of NSI literature. The exercise shows that over time the rate of published articles was quite irregular and that contributions on NSI have not (yet) converged to an integrated analytical framework. Although historically detailed descriptions on NSI showed a noticeable increase in the more recent period (20062010) analyses using more formal and diversified quantitative methodologies for assessing the performance of NSI remained lacking, reflecting its persisting methodological weaknesses. The roots of the NSI literature can be found at the core of innovation studies by certain well-known scholars in the area of economics of innovation and science policy research. Even though publications on NSI are falling in relative importance and are highly concentrated on a small set of countries (United Kingdom, Denmark, and the United States), their influence is global. They are cited by authors affiliated in organisations around the world, notably in Latin America and Asia. Such an influence goes far beyond the area of innovation studies and has resonated in fields such as economic geography, environmental studies, international business and managerial sciences. This demonstrates that the NSI literature is not self-referential.

Abstract
SMEs face several obstacles in their internationalization process that they cannot overcome alone, forcing them to remain domestic and, therefore, at a disadvantage in relation to competitors which adopt a more global business perspective. Government action can help SMEs to overcome their limitations, having come to play an increasingly more important role in export promotion, a field where it is normally an aggressive actor. This has led to the view that export promotion programs and agencies are today crucial instruments in supporting SMEs. For these reasons, the formulation of a national strategy of export promotion has been on the agenda of countries throughout the world. Policy decentralization is today a reality, as a reform of the public sector's model and as a development strategy. From the perspective of decentralization, it has been acknowledged that initiatives should be based on the territory and managed locally, and that the decentralization of power and responsibility to the local level is an important factor in local and regional development. Despite extensive research regarding decentralization, the role of local governments in promoting the internationalization of firms seems to have been rather neglected in the literature, whether in the area of regional science or that of international business. This paper intends to fill this gap, establishing a bridge in the review of the literature on promotion policies for the internationalization, decentralization and internationalization of firms.

Abstract
Despite extensive research on decentralisation, the role of local governments in promoting the internationalisation of firms has been rather neglected in the literature. Based on a sample of 144 Portuguese municipalities, and resorting to logistic econometric estimations, we found that: (1) the majority of municipalities have been involved in activities to promote economic development and the internationalisation of firms; (2) municipalities are essentially involved in the branding of regions (image building) or in organising fairs and trade missions and (3) municipalities more active in promoting the internationalisation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) tend to be more peripheral, with a relatively high area and population density, higher purchasing power, higher proportion of population with secondary schooling, lower density entrepreneurial context but with higher amounts of exports. Although there is still a long way to go for a more profound and comprehensive decentralisation at this level in Portugal, given the knowledge municipalities possess about the firms that are located in their vicinity, we contend that it would be desirable that more decentralised efforts be put towards the implementation of information, and education/training-related programmes aiming at promoting SMEs internationalisation. © The Author(s) 2014.

Abstract
This paper explores the key factors that foster technology transfer within the triad university-industry-government in an international context, i.e., the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN). Based on 71 technological Partnership Agreements (PAs), estimation results indicate that PAs associated to partners that provide their collaborators with the appropriate training in technology transfer-related issues, present substantial past experience in international or technological projects, and participate in extensive networks, are those that achieve better performances in terms of international technology transfer. High levels of formal schooling per se are not a key determinant of international technology transfer; the critical factor is highly educated human resources who receive complementary training in technology transfer issues. © Universidad Alberto Hurtado, Facultad de Economía y Negocios.

Abstract
This paper contributes to the scarce empirical literature on the impact of foreign ownership on human capital intensity. New evidence is provided, based on a comprehensive, large-scale survey of technology-based firms located in Portugal.The key findings are that: (1) foreign ownership directly (and significantly) impacts a firm's general human capital (education); (2) foreign ownership indirectly (and significantly) impacts a firm's specific human capital (skills); (3) the total impact of foreign ownership on a firm's human capital intensity is higher for education- (general) than for skills- (specific) related human capital intensity. Giving the critical importance of both FDI and human capital development for an 'intermediate' economy like Portugal (lagging behind in terms of human capital stock, and seeming to have lost part of its attractiveness as an FDI location), the paper discusses related policy implications. It is believed that our results and conclusions may be useful for other countries facing similar challenges.

Abstract