The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the literature on learning and the building of technological capabilities processes at the firm’s level in both, developing and developed countries. It also briefly reviews some works dealing with these issues at the level of sectors and countries. After analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of the existing approaches, the paper attempts to identify the research themes that seem to be emerging (such as new indicators of technological capabilities, building capabilities in the services sector and learning networks) and advances some ideas about the areas that require further research to be done.