Martin Woerter

Inter- and Intra-Firm Diffusion of Technology: The Example of E-Commerce: An Analysis Based on Swiss Firm-Level Data

The paper aims at a joint analysis of inter-firm and intra-firm diffusion of technology, taking as an example E-selling and E-purchasing. The analysis is based on an encompassing model of diffusion, drawn from the literature, which is extended by considering technology-specific obstacles and benefits of adoption. As hypothesised, we find, firstly, that the determinants of inter-firm and intrafirm diffusion differ in case of both types of E-commerce; secondly, that the drivers of the diffusion of E-selling and E-purchasing are not the same, and, finally, that uncertainties and adjustment costs, mostly neglected in previous work, are important factors in explaining technology diffusion.

Inter and Intra firm Diffusion of ICT in the United Kingdom (UK) and Switzerland (CH) An Internationally Comparative Study Based on Firm-level Data

This paper attempts to at least partially redress a paucity of current literature on the joint analysis of inter and intra firm diffusion of innovations within as well as across countries. In particular, by using two data sets derived from independent country-specific surveys, it undertakes an international comparison of inter and intra firm diffusion of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) use in the UK and Switzerland. This allows one to address many of the problems that have prevented general conclusions on the drivers of inter and intra firm ICT adoption decisions. An encompassing model is proposed which gives quite satisfactory results for both countries. It is found that inter and intra firm ICT adoption decisions are driven by different factors, confirming the findings of Battisti and Stoneman [Battisti, G. and Stoneman, P. (2003) Inter and Intra Firm Effects in the Diffusion of New process Technology. Research Policy, 32, 1641–1655; Battisti, G. and Stoneman, P. (2005) The Intra Firm Diffusion of New Process Technologies. International Journal of Industrial organisation 23, 1–22.] and Hollenstein and Woerter [Hollenstein, H. and Woerter, M. (2004) The Decision to Adopt Internet-based E-commerce. An Empirical Analysis Based on Swiss Firm-level Data. KOF Working paper NG 89, Zurich.] that ‘first use’ and ‘intensification of use’ represent independent choices. The study also suggests that significant differences exist between the UK and Switzerland, probably as a result of their differing diffusion stages. In addition the importance of new organisational and managerial practices as drivers of diffusion stressed by recent theoretical and empirical work is supported for both countries. Overall the findings suggest that comparative research is a promising way to identify robust relationships and should be explored further.

Is There Any Impact of University-Industry Knowledge Transfer on the Performance of Private Enterprises? - An Empirical Analysis Based on Swiss Firm Data

This study investigates the impacts of a palette of Knowledge and Technology Transfer (KTT) activities (general information, educational and research activities, activities related with technical infrastructure, and consulting) (a) on several innovation indicators (a1) in the framework of an innovation equation with variables of endogenized KTT activities (overall activities, specific forms of activities) as additional determinants of innovation, and (a2) based on a matched-pairs analysis for several forms of KTT activities; (b) on labour productivity in the framework of a production function with endogenized KTT activities as an additional production factor. The data used in the study were collected by means of a survey of Swiss enterprises that took place at the beginning of 2005. We found that KTT activities improve the innovation performance of firms both in terms of R&D intensity and sales of innovative products. The positive effect of overall KTT activities can be traced back mainly to research and educational activities. This could be shown by several methods: the innovation equation approach with endogenized KTT variable as well as three matching methods. Further, KTT activities seem to exercise a positive influence on labour productivity both through a direct effect as well as through an indirect effect by raising the elasticity of R&D intensity with respect to labour productivity.

Driving Forces for Research and Development Strategies: An Empirical Analysis Based on Firm-Level Panel Data

This paper investigates empirically different ways to organise R&D within Swiss firms. Based on a longitudinal data set comprising three cross sections (1999, 2002, and 2005) of the Swiss innovation survey, four different types of R&D strategies could have been separated; firms combine in-house R&D with R&D co-operations (coop), or in-house R&D with external R&D (buy), or they conduct in-house R&D, external R&D and R&D co-operations (mixed), or they exclusively rely on in-house R&D (make). It is the aim of this paper to understand what drives firms to go for different strategies. Based on econometric estimations controlling for correlations between the dependent variables and endogeneity among the independent variables it was found that concepts related to the absorptive capacity, incoming spillovers and appropriability, the importance of different knowledge resources, the competitive environment, costs and skill aspects as well as technological uncertainty are essential factors to determine firms decision to choose a specific way to organise R&D.

Diversity Structure of the Schumpeterian Evolution: An Axiomatic Approach

The purpose of the paper is to impose the diversity structure on the Schumpeterian evolution modelled axiomatically within a dynamical system approach to the ArrowDebreu theory of general equilibrium. In this framework two basic forms of economic life studied by Schumpeter, i.e., the circular flow and economic development are investigated as specific properties of a dynamic system, where single production systems being the parts of the Debreu models change in the definite environment according to the rules of the Schumpeterian evolution. Moreover, the Sterling diversity-triplet concept based on subcategories of variety, balance and disparity, is slightly modified and applied to serve as a tool for rigorous analysis of innovative and cumulative changes in production system with respect to diversity structure. Finally, integrating diversity aspects into a dynamic system approach, the study identifies innovative processes as the source of growing diversity in the Schumpeterian vision of economic development.

Knowledge and Technology Transfer (Ktt) Activities between Universities and Firms in Switzerland: The Main Facts - an Empirical Analysis Based on Firm-Level Data

This study is part of a large project aiming at the investigation of a) extent and b) economic relevance of knowledge and technology transfer (KTT) between science institutions (universities, universities of applied science and other public research institutions) and private corporations. Under knowledge and technology transfer we understand very broadly any activities targeted at transferring knowledge and technology that may help a company or a research institution - depending on the direction of the transfer - to further promote its activities. In this paper we report on the results of a large postal survey of Swiss enterprises based on a questionnaire on the exchange of knowledge and technology with Swiss universities and other research institutions. The survey was addressed to about 6000 firms from all sectors of the economy (with exception of hotels/catering, retail trade, transportation and personal services) and from different size classes. We received answers from 2582 firms, i.e., 45.4% of the firms in the underlying sample. In this paper we undertake a characterisation of KTT activities from a firms point of view: - Which are the main characteristics of firms conducting KTT (e.g., size, industry, RD what is the relative importance of such forms? - Which are the most important transfer channels (publications, patents, licenses, spinoffs) and intermediating organisations (technology transfer offices, KTI, SNF, etc.)? - Which are the most relevant transfer partners among the universities and other research institutions? - Which are the most important motives for KTT activities (e.g., financial motives, access to academic knowledge, institutional motives, etc.)? - Which are the most important impediments of KTT activities (lack of information, lack of conditions necessary for know-how transfer, costs and risks, etc.)?

University-Industry Knowledge and Technology Transfer in Switzerland: The University View

This descriptive paper is part of a large project aiming at exploring the factors determining the propensity of Swiss science institutions to interact with private enterprises in Switzerland (universities and other research institution), i.e. to get involved in knowledge and technology transfer (KTT) activities. On the other hand, a second part of this project investigates the factors determining the propensity of Swiss private enterprises for KTT activities. We are especially interested in the different forms of this interaction, not only through joint research projects but also through training, mobility of academic personnel, jointly supervised master theses and PhDs, consulting and so on. Further, our study investigates the channels of KTT such as e.g. scientific publications, patents, spin-offs as well as the mediating institutions (e.g. Technology Transfer Offices, Commission for Technology and Innovation (KTI), Swiss Research Foundation (SNF)). We also discuss the relative importance of a series of motives for and impediments of KTT activities. Finally, we take also a look at the impact of KTT activities on the research orientation, on teaching and least but not last, the financial position of institutes co-orating with private enterprises.

Determinants of Green Innovation: The Impact of Internal and External Knowledge

Based on a comprehensive data set comprising 13 countries, 22 industries and a period of 30 years we investigate the impact of internal and external knowledge pools of both green and ‘other than green’ technologies on green patent activities. It turned out that the internal green knowledge stock is positively related to green patent activities with a considerably large marginal value. The country’s green knowledge stock and the green knowledge stock of the same industry in other countries are also positively related with industries’ green patent activities, although with a significantly lower marginal value. External ‘other than green’ knowledge stocks are negatively related with green inventions. The considerable greater marginal value for internal green knowledge stock indicates that a free-riding position on green technology investments of other industries in the same country or the same industry in other countries does not seem to be very promising in terms of green inventions. The negative marginal effect of external ‘other than green’ knowledge stocks and the positive marginal value of external green knowledge stocks indicate that country level policy measures to promote green knowledge formation would provide additional positive effects for green inventions on an industry level.

Exploration or Exploitation of Knowledge from Universities: Does It Make a Difference?

In the first step, based on the existing theoretical and empirical literature, we develop a series of hypotheses with respect to the relative importance of possible determinants of exploration and exploitation of knowledge in collaboration with universities and test them on Swiss firm data. In the second step, we investigate the impact on innovation performance of knowledge exploration versus knowledge exploitation. We obtain a clear pattern of the differences between firms that are engaged both in exploitative and explorative activities (‘exploration’-oriented firms) and purely ‘exploitation’-oriented firms. We find that exploration-oriented firms have a greater knowledge absorptive capacity, are technologically more diverse and are strongly exposed to intensive non-price competition compared with exploitation-oriented firms. We further find a positive effect on innovation performance for exploitation-oriented firms but not for those that were exploration oriented.

Knowledge and Technology Transfer Activities between Firms and Universities in Switzerland: An Analysis Based on Firm Data

This study explores the factors determining the propensity of Swiss firms to get involved in knowledge and technology transfer (KTT) activities with universities and other research institutions in order to gain new scientific knowledge in research fields which are relevant for their own innovation activities. The data used in this study were collected by a postal survey among Swiss enterprises. We found that the propensity to KTT activities is positively correlated with the share of employees with tertiary-level education, the existence of R&D activities, firm age and firm size. Further, it is negatively correlated with obstacles of KTT activities related to the functioning of the interface between firms and universities. The analysis of five specific forms of KTT activities showed that there are differences among these forms as to the explanatory factors identified for the variable for overall KTT activities, particularly with respect to human capital intensity, some obstacles and firm size.