I. Fernández-de-Lucio

Analyzing the Determinants of Firm's Absorptive Capacity: Beyond R&D

This article proposes a new model for analyzing the determinants of absorptive capacity in companies. We suggest that absorptive capacity is determined not only by research and development activities, but also by a set of internal factors, which we group into three basic categories: organizational knowledge, formalization, and social integration mechanisms. In addition, we suggest that these factors may influence all components of the firms absorptive capacity, and that the influence can be positive or negative depending on the applicability of the knowledge being absorbed. This paper thus advances the understanding of absorptive capacity by exploring a largely ignored aspect in the literature: the role of knowledge attributes. We show how the model can be operationalized and empirically tested and provide preliminary evidence supporting most of the propositions in the analytical model.

University objectives and socioeconomic results: A multicriteria measuring of alignment

Universities develop technology transfer mechanisms as the tools required to undertake missions committed to the socioeconomic environment. In this work a new proposal to measure the extent to which the goals or strategic objectives of a university are aligned with the results obtained through its technology transfer mechanisms with the local community is presented. This will enable to perform a diagnosis, by comparing the situation sought by the University Management team (expected case) with the actual one that derives from the application of the plans that implement the technology transfer mechanisms (real case). To achieve this, two different Multicriteria Decision Analysis techniques e.g. Analytic Network Process (ANP) and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) will be used. Both the methodology and the MCDA techniques proposed need to be explained and clarified to the different experts who collaborate in the study, hence the facilitating process, key to the whole procedure, will be analysed in detail. The model proposed in this study is applied to analyse the case of the National University of Colombia - Bogota Campus. Findings show that the following questions can be answered: (i) How much importance is granted by the University Management to the objectives of the University? (ii) To what extent are the objectives of the university fulfilled by the technology transfer mechanisms to the socioeconomic environment? (iii) Are the objectives of the university aligned with the results achieved through the technology transfer mechanisms?

La Relación entre las Estrategias de Innovación: Coexistencia o Complementariedad

This paper explores the relationships between internal R&D and external knowledge acquisition as business innovation strategies. Drawing on absorptive capacity framework (Cohen and Levinthal, 1990), we distinguish and empirically evaluate two possible relationships: coexistence and complementarity. The analysis is based on a large sample of manufacturing firms taken from the Spanish Survey of Technological Innovation 2004. Our results show coexistence between internal R&D and external knowledge acquisition but they do not provide evidence that these activities are complementary with respect to influencing innovation performance. In other words, although our results suggest that internal R&D activities are associated with a greater use of external knowledge sourcing strategies, they do not seem to have synergistic effects to develop new products.

What do patent examiner inserted citations indicate for a region with low absorptive capacity

Most studies of patents citations focus on national or international contexts, especially contexts of high absorptive capacity, and employ examiner citations. We argue that results can vary if we take the region as the context of analysis, especially if it is a region with low absorptive capacity, and if we study applicant citations and examiner-inserted citations separately. Using a sample from the Valencian Community (Spain), we conclude that (i) the use of examiner-inserted citations as a proxy for applicant citations, (ii) the interpretation of non-patent references as indicators of science-industry links, and (iii) the traditional results for geographical localization are not generalizable to all regions with low absorptive capacity.

International Co-operation between Firms on Innovation and R&D: Empirical Evidence from Argentina and Spain

This paper examines co-operative innovation and Research and Development (R&D) behaviour between Argentine and Spanish firms. Based on theoretical perspectives from the literature, we present empirical evidence obtained from 104 firms of patterns of cooperation in several processes and out-puts, highlighting firm characteristics, the motives of the collaborating parties, types of partners, R&D and innovation activities, leadership, and obstacles to cooperation. Our results reveal that the determinants of success differ considerably among countries depending on the sector, the firm specific characteristics and funding. These differences have important implications for public policy and instruments to support R&D and innovation activities.

How do Spanish firms innovate?: An empirical evidence

This paper investigates the determinants of firms’ innovative performance, by exploring the effects of different innovation strategies related to generation and acquisition of technological knowledge. The analysis is based on a sample of 1329 Spanish manufacturing firms. The results suggest that R&D contracting has not significant effect on firms’ innovative performance and that cooperation with external agents has a limited effect. In contrast, the development of in-house R&D activities seems to be the most important strategy to introduce new products onto the market. These results warns against the risk of overrating external knowledge sourcing, and highlight the need for policy makers to establish innovation policies mainly focus on strengthening the technological capabilities of firms.This paper investigates the determinants of firms’ innovative performance, by exploring the effects of different innovation strategies related to generation and acquisition of technological knowledge. The analysis is based on a sample of 1329 Spanish manufacturing firms. The results suggest that R&D contracting has not significant effect on firms’ innovative performance and that cooperation with external agents has a limited effect. In contrast, the development of in-house R&D activities seems to be the most important strategy to introduce new products onto the market. These results warns against the risk of overrating external knowledge sourcing, and highlight the need for policy makers to establish innovation policies mainly focus on strengthening the technological capabilities of firms.Resumen es: Este articulo examina los determinantes del desempeno innovador de las empresas manufactureras espanolas, considerando especialmente el efecto que ejerc...

¿CÓMO INNOVAN LAS EMPRESAS ESPAÑOLAS?: UNA EVIDENCIA EMPIRICA

This paper investigates the determinants of firms’ innovative performance, by exploring the effects of different innovation strategies related to generation and acquisition of technological knowledge. The analysis is based on a sample of 1329 Spanish manufacturing firms. The results suggest that R&D contracting has not significant effect on firms’ innovative performance and that cooperation with external agents has a limited effect. In contrast, the development of in-house R&D activities seems to be the most important strategy to introduce new products onto the market. These results warns against the risk of overrating external knowledge sourcing, and highlight the need for policy makers to establish innovation policies mainly focus on strengthening the technological capabilities of firms.This paper investigates the determinants of firms’ innovative performance, by exploring the effects of different innovation strategies related to generation and acquisition of technological knowledge. The analysis is based on a sample of 1329 Spanish manufacturing firms. The results suggest that R&D contracting has not significant effect on firms’ innovative performance and that cooperation with external agents has a limited effect. In contrast, the development of in-house R&D activities seems to be the most important strategy to introduce new products onto the market. These results warns against the risk of overrating external knowledge sourcing, and highlight the need for policy makers to establish innovation policies mainly focus on strengthening the technological capabilities of firms.Resumen es: Este articulo examina los determinantes del desempeno innovador de las empresas manufactureras espanolas, considerando especialmente el efecto que ejerc...

Motives for international cooperation on R&D and innovation: Empirical evidence from Argentinean and Spanish firms

This paper focuses on the strategic motives and firm characteristics that influence cooperation for R&D and innovation among Argentinean and Spanish firms. On the basis of a review of different theoretical perspectives we propose and apply a taxonomy of motives for inter-firm technological cooperation. We combined quantitative and qualitative methodologies, developing a database of 540 innovative firms and conducting a survey that obtained evidence from 104 of these firms, supplemented by information gathered from 19 in-depth interviews. Our results show that technological cooperation is not easy to achieve and determined by a complex interplay of intentions and practical opportunities. The lack of convergence in the motives for cooperation creates un-favourable conditions and affects negatively the initiation of the cooperation processes. These differences together with asymmetries in access to funding are important obstacles to cooperation with implications in the administration of national policy incentives and its regulation mechanisms.

Theory and Practice in Knowledge Transfer: The Emergence of ‘Interface Structures’

The genesis and diffusion of innovation depends upon the density of the cognitive and market relationships among individuals, organisations and institutions at both the micro- and macro-economic level. By addressing the nature of these relationships, which include cooperation, competition and power, this book presents an important and progressive enquiry into the economic and social origins of innovation.

How does diversity affect district innovation systems? Findings from a comparative study of european ceramics

This research applies Nelson’s (1993) primary typology of enterprises to understand why the propensity for innovation varies across ceramics district innovation systems in Europe. We use innovation systems and industrial district theories to explore the innovation capacity of the two most important ceramic tile industrial districts in Europe—Emilia Romagna in Italy and Castellon in Spain. Our analysis shows that, in both districts, innovation plays a decisive role in allowing companies to maintain competitiveness in a globalizing market. However, by comparing the composition of their district innovation systems, our analysis shows that: (i) although levels of competition in both districts are similar, cooperation is stronger in Italy; (ii) scarce technology and advanced service providers in Spain make it predominantly a follower in the adoption of innovation; (iii) higher innovation intensity in Italy is due to diffusion of technology from firms in neighbouring districts specialized in other industry sectors. We provide strong evidence indicating that differences in the industry mix shape both national and district innovation systems.