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on Economics of Strategic Management |
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Issue of 2026–04–27
eight papers chosen by João José de Matos Ferreira, Universidade da Beira Interior |
| By: | Hottenrott, Hanna; Schaper, Thomas; Schwierzy, Julian |
| Abstract: | Competitive public research funding is an important policy instrument to foster scientific progress. The effective design of such funding schemes and whether they generate knowledge spillovers to industrial inventions, however, remains debated. In this paper, we investigate the impacts of geographically localized forum grants - Clusters of Excellence - awarded for additive manufacturing research under Germany's Excellence Initiative from 2006-2012. Using synthetic difference-in-differences estimation, we find that Clusters increased local scientific output in funding-related domains in the right tail of the scientific impact distribution - as measured by article citations - compared to non-funded applicant groups in similar locations. While patenting by nearby firms remained unaffected at the extensive margin, we find evidence for significant knowledge spillovers to local industry. These manifested as a rise in the number of high-impact firm patents confined to related technical areas, and Clusters receiving a significantly larger number of prior art citations from industry patents, compared to the control group, which were geographically localized and confined to top publications. Our findings support the effectiveness of forum-based funding programs for top science and provide dual implications for research and industrial policy. |
| Keywords: | Frontier science, research funding, knowledge spillovers, industry-science linkages |
| JEL: | I23 O31 O38 |
| Date: | 2026 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:zewdip:340105 |
| By: | Jullien, Bruno; Bedre Defolie, Özlem; Biglaiser, Gary |
| Abstract: | We study a startup’s choice of its “direction of innovation, ” how well the technology fits alternative acquirers, and the effects on acquisition outcomes and market dominance. Two horizontally differentiated firms bid to acquire the innovation and then compete in the product market. Firms differ in initial quality stock and in “absorption capabilities, ” how effectively the acquired innovation is integrated into their stock. The innovator designs the innovation to intensify bidding by putting firms on a more equal footing, thereby favoring the initially lower-quality firm. As a result, “increasing dominance” is less likely than under exogenous fit. The winner of the innovation is driven primarily by relative absorption capabilities rather than initial quality: the f irm with higher absorption capability is more likely to win. The equilibrium innovation direction minimizes industry profit and consumer surplus. In a two-period model, decreasing dominance becomes more likely when the low-quality firm has stronger absorption capabilities. |
| Date: | 2026–04–20 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:tse:wpaper:131684 |
| By: | Toshihiro OKUBO; Alexander F. WAGNER; Kazuo YAMADA |
| Abstract: | Innovation is central to productivity growth, yet firms facing similar technological and policy environments differ in their R&D investment behavior. We examine whether persistent regional social norms help explain this variation. Using prefecture-level data from Japan, we measure regional conformism based on a 1941 military conscription examination and contemporary school education surveys, demonstrating that regional differences have persisted over time. Linking them to data on all Japanese manufacturing firms from 1995 to 2022, we find that firms in more conformist regions exhibit significantly lower R&D intensity even after controlling for cognitive ability, firm characteristics, and fixed effects. The relationship with patenting is weaker and less robust. To isolate the historical component of conformity, we instrument pre-war conformism using differences in domain-level educational curricula during the Edo-period (1603–1868). The IV results similarly indicate a significant negative effect on firms’ R&D intensity. Overall, the findings suggest that persistent regional social norms are most strongly related to firms’ innovation investment rather than realized innovation output. |
| Date: | 2026–04 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eti:dpaper:26033 |
| By: | OECD |
| Abstract: | Critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper, graphite and rare earth elements are poised to play an increasingly important role in environmental sustainability, emerging technology and defense applications. Innovation can play a vital role in reducing primary demand for them while reducing associated supply chain risks and providing benefits for the environment and human health. This paper examines the intersection of technological innovation, critical raw materials and economic policy. It draws on a review of academic and non-academic literature to analyse the key drivers of innovation in the critical raw material supply chain, as well as how innovation might help drive the reforms needed to establish more secure supply networks and sustainable business practices. It then develops a conceptual framework for categorising innovation across the value chain and types of innovations before assessing emerging policy challenges and opportunities for governments. |
| Keywords: | Batteries, Critical materials, Critical mineral, Critical raw material, Innovation, Materials security, Mining, Rare earth elements, Resource scarcity, Supply chain |
| JEL: | O30 Q55 Q58 O38 |
| Date: | 2026–04–27 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:envaaa:273-en |
| By: | Barbara Caemmerer (ESSCA School of Management, Paris); Valentina Stan (ESSCA School of Management, Paris); Giorgio Russolillo (CEDRIC - MSDMA - CEDRIC. Méthodes statistiques de data-mining et apprentissage - CEDRIC - Centre d'études et de recherche en informatique et communications - ENSIIE - Ecole Nationale Supérieure d'Informatique pour l'Industrie et l'Entreprise - Cnam - Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers [Cnam]) |
| Abstract: | ABSTRACT Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) dominate the global business landscape, making their sustainability efforts crucial. Yet little is known about how institutional contexts shape these practices. Using Institutional Theory, we compare the influence of cluster membership (CM), global value chain (GVC) membership, and the organizational business environment (OBE) on SMEs' implementation of sustainability practices. Data from 12, 326 SME decision‐makers in the European Union—collected via computer‐assisted telephone interviewing (CATI)—were extracted from the Eurostat Flash Eurobarometer 486. We use ordinal logistic regression to model SME sustainability practices as a function of CM, GVC membership, and the OBE, and dominance analysis to compare their relative influence. Findings show a hierarchy of contextual influence: CM has the strongest association, followed by GVC membership, while that of the OBE is relatively weak. These insights support efforts to expand SME cluster development and GVC integration to accelerate sustainable transformation and meet EU sustainability objectives. |
| Keywords: | business environment clusters global value chains Institutional Theory SMEs sustainability, business environment, clusters, global value chains, Institutional Theory, SMEs, sustainability |
| Date: | 2026–04–08 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05585592 |
| By: | Raymond Corona (Capitol Technology University, Laurel, MD, USA) |
| Abstract: | Artificial intelligence has rapidly shifted from a peripheral technological tool to a central driver of innovation across industries, and professional sports are no exception. Within the National Basketball Association, AI applications have expanded beyond performance analytics into strategic, operational, and managerial domains. This paper positions AI as a strategic resource by applying the Resource-Based Theory (RBT), which emphasizes the importance of valuable, rare, inimitable, and non-substitutable resources in sustaining competitive advantage. Prior studies have illustrated the transformative role of analytics in player evaluation, injury prevention, tactical adjustments, and fan engagement, yet there is limited research that systematically frames these developments through the lens of RBT. By synthesizing existing literature and NBA-specific studies, this research argues that AI functions as a dynamic asset that enhances talent management, strengthens decision-making, and optimizes organizational efficiency. The methodology relies on a quantitative assessment of secondary data and prior empirical studies that measure AI-driven outcomes in basketball contexts, including performance metrics, coaching decisions, and operational cost savings. Findings indicate that NBA franchises integrating advanced analytics and AI systems, such as micromovement tracking and predictive modeling, achieve measurable advantages in player utilization, game planning, and resource allocation compared to less technologically adaptive organizations. Additionally, the results highlight that investment in AI infrastructure correlates with long-term organizational resilience and sustained success, supporting RBT’s assertion that strategic resources underpin competitive positioning. Discussion focuses on the implications for league-wide equity, as disparities in technological adoption may widen performance gaps, and considers the potential for AI to evolve as both a tangible and intangible asset that redefines how NBA teams conceptualize value creation. Future opportunities include the expansion of AI into fan personalization, virtual and augmented reality experiences, and enhanced global market strategies, all of which further illustrate AI’s role as a foundational resource for modern sports management. This paper contributes to academic discourse by extending RBT into the sports industry while offering practical insights for NBA executives, coaches, and policymakers seeking to leverage AI for strategic advantage. |
| Keywords: | Artificial Intelligence, National Basketball Association, Resource-Based Theory, Competitive Advantage, Sports Analytics, Talent Management, Strategic DecisionMaking, Organizational Efficiency |
| Date: | 2026–03 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:smo:raiswp:0629 |
| By: | Dawn T. Gresham (Marymount University, Arlington, USA) |
| Abstract: | Despite the rapid digital transformation of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), the organizational dynamics underlying faculty reactions to online instructional resources remain underresearched. While traditional innovation models frequently focus on individual variables, innovation is a purposeful change process requiring fundamental behavioral shifts rather than routine procedural improvements. Faculty acceptance is a critical determinant of successful implementation; however, existing literature often overemphasizes leadership at the expense of followership, a perspective that suggests a significant institutional risk. Drawing upon a socio-constructivist framework, this paper examines innovation adoption through the lens of followership. Since an organization’s reality is built upon collective standards of thought and practice, faculty engagement is a defining element of leadership efficacy. This study utilizes the concept of "followership schemas"—generalized knowledge structures developed through socialization—to explore how these cognitive frameworks influence the integration of new technologies. By repositioning followers as potential "entrepreneurial leaders" who drive innovation from within, this paper demonstrates how a robust understanding of followership can positively impact the practical adoption of innovation in university settings. This shift in perspective offers a more comprehensive understanding of the human factors that determine the success of digital transformation in higher education. |
| Keywords: | Technology Adoption, Innovation, Faculty Adoption, Online Technology, Faculty Development, Higher Education, Followership, Followers, Leadership |
| Date: | 2026–03 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:smo:raiswp:0639 |
| By: | Crispeels Thomas; De Buyser Emiel; Gavigan James; Compano Ramon (European Commission - JRC) |
| Abstract: | - University Venture Capital (UVC) are set up to bridge the funding gap for university spin-offs, targeting deep tech sectors. They contribute to fortify the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem - UVCs pursue dual objectives: financial sustainability and societal impact aligned with university missions - UVC in Europe has been steady increasing over the past decade. - UVCs can be grouped into four main archetypes (Anchor, Sleeping Giant, Foundational and Catalyst), according to their governance models, maturity levels, and role within their local innovation ecosystems - EU policy can accelerate the promotion of UVC through capacity-building, co-investment schemes and alignment with broader R&I instruments (e.g., EIC Fund, Lab-to-Unicorn initiative) |
| Date: | 2026–03 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ipt:iptwpa:jrc145719 |