We investigate the role of search strategy in shaping firms’ innovation perfor- mance. Firms use a wide range of external actors and sources to help them achieve and sustain innovation. In particular, the extension (breadth) and the relevance (depth) of such sources determine firms’ ability to extract and exploit knowledge and new ideas and, thus, to be innovative. Using a sample of firms in a regional context active in R&D, we built separate measures of breadth and depth for local (on a regional scale) and global (outside the regional context) search. This allows us to investigate whether localized or global knowledge spillovers are in place. We find that a wider set of partners increases coordi- nation costs, while greater depth in search strategies contributes to innovation. We find that a more diversified search strategy at the local level (greater breadth of search) results in significant payoffs in terms of innovation, while diversifying the partnership with Italian partners has a smaller, although still positive, effect. In contrast, the benefits of depth of innovation are greatest at the global level. In addition, a broader set of information sources for R&D projects has a significant positive effect on innovation. Finally, firms that resort to R&D subsidies are less innovative.

The role of openness in explaining innovation performance in a regional context / D'Ambrosio, Anna; Gabriele, Roberto; Schiavone, Francesco; Villasalero, Manuel. - In: THE JOURNAL OF TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER. - ISSN 0892-9912. - STAMPA. - 2017:42(2)(2017), pp. 389-408. [10.1007/s10961-016-9501-8]

The role of openness in explaining innovation performance in a regional context

D'Ambrosio, Anna;Gabriele, Roberto;
2017-01-01

Abstract

We investigate the role of search strategy in shaping firms’ innovation perfor- mance. Firms use a wide range of external actors and sources to help them achieve and sustain innovation. In particular, the extension (breadth) and the relevance (depth) of such sources determine firms’ ability to extract and exploit knowledge and new ideas and, thus, to be innovative. Using a sample of firms in a regional context active in R&D, we built separate measures of breadth and depth for local (on a regional scale) and global (outside the regional context) search. This allows us to investigate whether localized or global knowledge spillovers are in place. We find that a wider set of partners increases coordi- nation costs, while greater depth in search strategies contributes to innovation. We find that a more diversified search strategy at the local level (greater breadth of search) results in significant payoffs in terms of innovation, while diversifying the partnership with Italian partners has a smaller, although still positive, effect. In contrast, the benefits of depth of innovation are greatest at the global level. In addition, a broader set of information sources for R&D projects has a significant positive effect on innovation. Finally, firms that resort to R&D subsidies are less innovative.
2017
42(2)
D'Ambrosio, Anna; Gabriele, Roberto; Schiavone, Francesco; Villasalero, Manuel
The role of openness in explaining innovation performance in a regional context / D'Ambrosio, Anna; Gabriele, Roberto; Schiavone, Francesco; Villasalero, Manuel. - In: THE JOURNAL OF TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER. - ISSN 0892-9912. - STAMPA. - 2017:42(2)(2017), pp. 389-408. [10.1007/s10961-016-9501-8]
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
DAmbrosio2017_Article_TheRoleOfOpennessInExplainingI-2.pdf

accesso aperto

Descrizione: Versione Stampa definitiva
Tipologia: Versione editoriale (Publisher’s layout)
Licenza: Creative commons
Dimensione 467.89 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
467.89 kB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11572/151786
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 33
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 28
social impact