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on Knowledge Management and Knowledge Economy |
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Issue of 2014‒05‒17
ten papers chosen by Laura Stefanescu European Research Centre of Managerial Studies in Business Administration |
| By: | Govori, Arbiana |
| Abstract: | Innovation has become a central theme and challenge in the literature of entrepreneurship, SMEs management, and strategic knowledge management and in the literature of organizational learning. Innovation needs a business environment that is conducive to long-term investments in new business activities. This way, the development of innovation policy in SMEs forms an important environment that needs to be supported by government new economic policies and strategies and especially by new approach to entrepreneurship and innovation. In this paper we address the innovation strategies of SMEs engaged in the production of products and services. We base our conclusions on an analysis of primary data collected in a survey of 80 small and medium sized firms in the region of Prishtina, held between March 2014 and May 2014. The results show that innovation in business tends to be driven by external competitive pressures and customer demands. Many SMEs face financial barriers to engaging and undertaking innovation, while a few of them have been seriously engaged in innovation despite the obstacles. |
| Keywords: | Entrepreneurship, Innovation, SMEs, Competition, Strategy, Funding |
| JEL: | M0 M1 M2 O3 O30 O31 O32 O33 O34 O38 |
| Date: | 2014–05–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:55898&r=knm |
| By: | Pilar Beneito (University of Valencia and ERI-CES); María Engracia Rochina-Barrachina (University of Valencia); Amparo Sanchis (University of Valencia) |
| Abstract: | In this paper we investigate the pattern of R&D efficiency in terms of the number of product innovations achieved by firms over time. Embodied in the R&D capital stock, we distinguish among physical R&D capital and human R&D capital, and allow the latter to be subject to dynamic returns along firms’ R&D histories. We assume that firms’ innovation outcomes depend on the length of the period of time they have been investing in R&D and explore whether the interruption in this temporal sequence of engagement in R&D affects the rate of achievement of innovation outcomes. For this purpose, we estimate an innovation production function using a panel dataset of Spanish manufacturing firms for the period 1990-2006. Our results suggest that R&D activities exhibit dynamic returns that are increasing but at a decreasing rate, possibly due to exhaustion of innovation opportunities. In addition, our findings indicate that interruptions of R&D activities reduce R&D efficiency, probably due to organizational forgetting. However, spillover effects seem to exist between firms’ R&D spells since firms resuming R&D activities achieve innovation success rates above the innovation rates of their initial years of R&D activities. |
| Keywords: | R&D, dynamic returns, interruptions, product innovation, count data |
| Date: | 2014–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eec:wpaper:1403&r=knm |
| By: | Guimón, José (Department of Economic Structure and Development Economics, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid); Salazar, Juan Carlos (Department of Economic Structure and Development Economics, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid) |
| Abstract: | Collaboration between foreign subsidiaries and universities is relevant for multinational companies that aim at absorbing knowledge from abroad, as well as for policymakers attempting to maximize the spillovers associated with FDI. In this paper, we explore how multinational companies collaborate with universities in the foreign countries where they locate and provide new empirical evidence for Spain as a host country. Using a probit model with panel data from the Community Innovation Survey, we failed to find significant differences between the propensity of foreign subsidiaries and comparable Spanish firms to collaborate with universities. Subsequently, building on a new survey and five case studies, we were able to relate the scale and scope of such collaborations with the dynamic mandates of foreign subsidiaries in global innovation networks and to explore further the variety of motivations that drive collaboration. |
| Keywords: | collaboration in innovation; FDI; foreign subsidiaries; global innovation networks; multinational companies; open innovation; spillovers; university-industry collaboration |
| JEL: | F23 O32 |
| Date: | 2014–05–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:lucirc:2014_005&r=knm |
| By: | Joelle Noailly; Victoria Shestalova (The Centre for International Environmental Studies, The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva) |
| Abstract: | This paper studies the knowledge spillovers generated by renewable energy technologies, unraveling the technological fields that benefit from knowledge developed in storage, solar, wind, marine, hydropower, geothermal, waste and biomass energy technologies. Using citation data of patents in renewable technologies at 17 European countries over the 1978-2006 period, the analysis examines the relative importance of knowledge flows within the same specific technological field (intra-technology spillovers), to other technologies in the field of power-generation (inter-technology spillovers), and to technologies unrelated to power-generation (external-technology spillovers). The results show significant differences across various renewable technologies. While wind technologies mainly find applications within their own technological field, a large share of innovations in solar energy and storage technologies find applications outside the field of power generation, suggesting that solar technologies are more general and, therefore, may have a higher value for society. Finally, the knowledge from waste and biomass technologies is mainly exploited by fossil-fuel power-generating technologies. The paper discusses the implications of these results for the design of R&D policies for renewable energy innovation. |
| Keywords: | Renewable energy, innovation, patents, knowledge spillovers, technology policy. |
| Date: | 2013–12–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:gii:ciesrp:cies_rp_22&r=knm |
| By: | Peters, Bettina; Riley, Rebecca; Siedschlag, Iulia; Vahter, Priit; McQuinn, John |
| Abstract: | We examine the links between innovation investment, innovation output and productivity in service enterprises. For this purpose, we use micro data from the Community Innovation Surveys 2006-2008 in Germany, Ireland, and the United Kingdom and estimate an augmented structural model which links innovation inputs, innovation outputs and productivity. Our estimates suggest that innovation in service enterprises was linked to higher productivity. In all three countries analysed, amongst the innovation types that we consider, the strongest link between innovation and productivity was found for marketing innovations. Successful innovation in service enterprises appears to be associated with enterprise size, innovation expenditure intensity (in Germany and the United Kingdom), foreign ownership (Ireland), exporting and engagement in co-operation for innovation activities. The determinants of innovation in service enterprises appear remarkably similar to the determinants of innovation in manufacturing enterprises. |
| Keywords: | Internationalisation of services; innovation; productivity |
| Date: | 2014–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:esr:wpaper:wp480&r=knm |
| By: | Thomas Gillier (ERPI - Equipe de Recherche sur les Processus Innovatifs - Institut National Polytechnique de Lorraine (INPL) - Ecole Nationale Supérieure en Génie des Systèmes Industriels); Akın Kazakçı (CGS - Centre de Gestion Scientifique - MINES ParisTech - École nationale supérieure des mines de Paris); Gérald Piat (EDF R&D - EDF) |
| Abstract: | Purpose - Scholars and practitioners have both emphasized the importance of collaboration in innovation context. They have also largely acknowledged that the definition of common purpose is a major driver of successful collaboration, but surprisingly, researchers have put little effort into investigating the process whereby the partners define the common purpose. This research aims to explore the Generation of Common Purpose (GCP) in innovation partnerships. Design/methodology/approach - An action-research approach combined with modeling has been followed. Our research is based on an in-depth qualitative case study of a cross-industry exploratory partnership through which four partners, from very different arenas, aim to collectively define innovation projects based on micro-nanotechnologies. Based on a design reasoning framework, the mechanisms of GCP mechanism are depicted. Findings - Regarding GCP, two main interdependent facets are identified: (1) the |
| Keywords: | C-K design theory; Cross-industry partnership; Design; Generation of common purpose, Innovation; Innovation partnerships; Partnership; Shared objectives; common goals |
| Date: | 2014–04–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-00982992&r=knm |
| By: | Acosta,Manuel; Azagra-Caro,Joaquín M.; Coronado,Daniel |
| Abstract: | This paper tracks university-to-firm patent citations rather than the more usual patent-to-patent or paper-to-patent citations. It explains regional and non-regional citations as a function of firms’ absorptive capacity and universities’ production capacity in the region rather than explaining citations as a function of distance between citing and cited regions. Using a dataset of European Union regions for the years 1997-2007, we find that fostering university R&D capacity increases the attractiveness of the local university’s knowledge base to firms in the region, but also reduces wider searches for university knowledge. Increasing the absorptive capacity of local business encourages firms to access university knowledge from outside the region. |
| Keywords: | Knowledge flows, patent citations, spillovers, regions |
| JEL: | O31 O33 R12 |
| Date: | 2014–05–15 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ing:wpaper:201405&r=knm |
| By: | Zaman, Gheorghe; Georgescu, George |
| Abstract: | The interrelation research-development-innovation has proved crucial for raising the economic competitiveness. The comparative analysis of Romania’competitiveness in the global and European context highlights significant gaps as compared with advanced countries, mainly in R&D intensity, quality of scientific research, innovative entrepreneurship, intellectual assets. Achieving the target of 2% of GDP for R&D spending in 2020 became a challenge for Romania, radical improvements in RDI strategy consistence, growing business sector investments, enforcing innovative capacity, increasing the EU funds absoption rate being needed. The paper is focusing on discrepancies size for the above mentioned indicators as well as the main ways and economic mechanisms of solving the problems and dilemmas which Romania is facing with on different time horizons. |
| Keywords: | global crisis; research & development; innovation; competitivity |
| JEL: | I20 O30 O38 |
| Date: | 2013–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:52944&r=knm |
| By: | SUZUKI Jun; TSUKADA Naotoshi; GOTO Akira |
| Abstract: | In this paper, we focus on three large public research institutes (PRIs) in Japan—National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN), and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)—and investigate their roles in helping Japan's industry by examining their patents. First, the background and history of the development of these institutions are described briefly. We employ four measures drawn from patent data (inventor forward citation, examiner forward citation, family size, and generality index) to describe the inventive activities of PRIs. Universities' and firms' patents are used as benchmarks. The impact of the PRIs' research collaboration with the private sector is analyzed as well. We found that each of the three PRIs has been playing a unique role in Japan's innovation system. In addition, we found out that universities' patenting activity has been facing difficulties particularly in recent years. Finally, we discuss the factors that might affect the research outcome. |
| Date: | 2014–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eti:dpaper:14021&r=knm |
| By: | Lee, Keun; Juma, Calestous; Mathews, John |
| Abstract: | A sustainable pathway for Africa in the twenty-first century is laid out in the setting of the development of innovation capabilities and the capture of latecomer advantages. Africa has missed out on these possibilities in the twentieth century while seei |
| Keywords: | Africa, sustainable development, innovation capabilities, green growth strategy, latecomer advantages |
| Date: | 2014 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp2014-062&r=knm |