Moreira, AntonioCarvalho, Ana Carolina Soares deCarvalho, Luísa Margarida Cagica2026-02-032026-02-0320152327-33722327-3380http://hdl.handle.net/10400.2/21124The main purpose of this chapter is to develop an exploratory proposal for identifying innovative suppliers, creating knowledge in an area not very deeply explored. Based on a literature revision based on the innovative supplier identification and management, the study suggests that innovative suppliers are highly specialized and technically competent companies, located nearby their customers and take part on their client’s improvement program. Based on the literature revision, a framework analyzing client-supplier relationships throughout the supply chain is proposed. The framework uses the strategic alignment concept between clients and suppliers. Finally, 61 questions were developed to identify the innovative suppliers.engbook part2026-01-27cv-prod-36734110.4018/978-1-4666-8216-0.ch0222-s2.0-84957051848