Małgorzata Stefania Lewandowska

Capturing Absorptive Capacity: Concepts, Determinants, Measurement Modes and Role in Open Innovation

Abstract Absorptive capacity (ACAP) enables firm to adjust to a rapidly changing environment and achieve sustained competitive advantage. This study contributes to the existing body of knowledge on ACAP by providing a comprehensive literature review of the various conceptual attributes of the construct, its determinants, outcomes, and positive and negative consequences of using its input-oriented, output-oriented, and perceptive measurement modes. Proposals for constructing ACAP based on the Community Innovation Survey (CIS) empirically illustrate for the conceptual part of the paper. Additionally, combining concepts of absorptive capacity and open innovation (which is still rare in the literature) provides a new perspective on the role of absorptive capacity in opening up the innovation process. This advances the understanding of both inter-related proposals. The article also identifies key problems and formulates future research directions to improve the multi-level characteristics of absorptive capacity.

Do Government Policies Foster Environmental Performance of Enterprises from CEE Region

Abstract In recent years, EU countries, including these from the Central Eastern European (CEE) region has recognised, that eco-innovation should be treated as strategic priority of their economies. The aim of this paper is to present a cross-country analysis of the connection between eco-innovation and its main drivers within firms from selected CEE countries (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Romania) and Germany. The empirical part is based on micro-data for Community Innovation Survey (CIS) 2006-2008. Based on the results of stepwise regression between main policy actions sustaining innovation activity and eco-innovation performance we can conclude, that financial support for innovation activities has a rather limited role in promoting eco-innovation. At the same time enterprises from the CEE region regard environmental regulations as the most important drivers of eco-innovation. In Germany, a country ranked in the highest category in the Eco-Innovation Scoreboard, the variety of forces that influence eco-innovation is much more wide-ranging. This indicates that government actions should take a broader look and lay the more general bases fostering the model of a green growth.

Policies to Promote Eco-innovation: Results for Selected CEE Countries and Germany

Eco-innovation should be identified as one of the main pillars for European countries, including those from the Central Eastern European (CEE) region. For this reason, the aim of this chapter is to present a comparative cross-country analysis of the relationship between eco-innovation and its main drivers for firms from selected CEE countries. The chapter provides a special insight into the role of public financial support and government regulations in stimulating eco-innovation performance. The empirical part is based on micro-data for CIS 2006–2008 for firms from Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Romania and Germany. The results of stepwise regression show that financial support for innovation activities has rather limited role in fostering eco-innovation, whereas existing environmental regulations are regarded by enterprises from CEE region as their most important driver. In Germany, country ranked higher in Eco-Innovation Scoreboard than the other above mentioned countries, the spectrum of equally important forces is much more enhanced. This leads to the conclusion that government efforts have to cover not only changes in existing environmental policies, but set the ground for the creation of a legal and institutional environment which promotes a model of green economy.

Influence of Internal and External Relationships of Foreign Subsidiaries on Innovation Performance. Evidence from Germany, Czech Republic and Romania *

The paper assesses the influence of foreign-owned subsidiaries’ (FS) intra- and inter-organizational relationships on product innovation performance. Data drawn from CIS figures for the 2006-2008 cover 1747 FS established in Germany, 385 FS in the Czech Republic, and 276 FS in Romania. Our analysis, employing the structural equation model, reveals a positive influence of FS internal relationships (with both local and foreign partners) and of FS external linkages on product and marketing innovation, the strongest in Germany-based FS. Moreover, a significant positive influence of FS internal relationships on external innovation cooperation is shown. Results suggest a relatively deeper embeddedness of Germany-based FS than of FS located in analysed transition economies.