Information services to industry in Northern Portugal: Planning RIA (rede de informação associativa)

摘要

Industry in Northern Portugal is composed mainly of small and medium-sized companies, but the region is one of the most industrialized in Portugal, as well as one of the most heavily populated. The study reported here was undertaken to explore the information needs of entrepreneurs in the region, representing companies in membership of one or more of six industrial associations, and those that were not in membership. The industrial associations provide information services to varying degrees, the most comprehensive being those provided by the Associação Industrial Portuense (AlPortuense), which, located in Oporto, has a national role. The study concluded that the establishment of a network of the associations, with a central node based in AlPortuense would be an appropriate step towards the ultimate satisfaction of business information needs.