Uma geografia das empresas de software em Chapecó/SC: formação socioespacial e meio técnico-científico-informacional

Abstract

This thesis explores the evolution of the information technology (IT) industry in the city of Chapecó, located in the western region of Santa Catarina, analyzing the relationship between local socio-spatial transformations and the emergence and evolution of software companies. The analysis is based on the theoretical perspective of Milton Santos, which emphasizes the importance of understanding the parts of the whole in order to comprehend the development of a territory. The methodology employed involved a qualitative approach, with semi-structured interviews conducted with entrepreneurs, representatives of business associations, researchers, and professors in the IT field, while also including quantitative analyses on the sector’s growth, using data related to the number of companies, professionals employed in the area, remuneration, among others. The work is organized into three chapters, in addition to the introduction, with the first addressing the socio-spatial formation of Chapecó throughout the 20th century, followed by a synthesis and analysis of the software companies' paradigm in the city today, and finally, a discussion on the different microperiods of IT companies in Chapecó. Among the main results of the research, the demonstration of the existence of different microperiods during the development of information technology companies from their inception to the present moment stands out, as well as the highlighting of the fact that the geographical space of Chapecó, its socio-spatial formation, and the city's absolute and relational position were important factors for the growth of the companies, along with a discussion on the real importance of formal education during the sector's transformation.