Influence of the types of innovation on the performance of firms in the Spanish region of Valencia, in terms of their exports

The main objective of this article was to contribute new empirical evidence regarding the influence of innovation indicators on both firm performance and export capabilities within a specific region in Spain. To achieve this objective, a longitudinal empirical study was conducted at two time points, 2014 and 2020, utilising a sample of 113 companies. A direct association was found between a high level of exports and the implementation of strategic innovations, contrasting with the negative relationship observed with cost and investment barriers and the application of organisational innovation. Furthermore, a direct link was identified between belonging to the manufacturing sector and the implementation of process innovations, in contrast to the negative relationship found for the implementation of organisational innovations. Finally, the proper selection of innovation types, taking into account factors such as company size, sector classification, obstacles, and precedents, significantly influences the ability of companies to enhance their export levels.