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on Small Business Management |
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Issue of 2013‒03‒09
seven papers chosen by Joao Carlos Correia Leitao University of Beira Interior and Technical University of Lisbon |
| By: | Arvanitis, Spyros (KOF, ETH Zürich); Lokshin, Boris (School of Business and Economics, Maastricht University); Mohnen, Pierre (UNU-MERIT/MGSoG); Wörter, Martin (KOF, ETH Zürich) |
| Abstract: | There is growing evidence that firms increasingly adopt open innovation practices. In this paper we investigate the impact of two such external knowledge acquisition strategies, 'buy' and 'cooperate', on firm's product innovation performance. Taking a direct (productivity) approach, we test for complementarity effects in the simultaneous use of the two strategies, and in the intensity of their use. Our results based on large panels of Dutch and Swiss innovating firms, suggest that while both 'buy' and 'cooperate' have a positive effect on innovation, there is little statistical evidence that using them simultaneously leads to higher innovation performance. Results from the Dutch sample provide some indication, that there are positive economies of scope in doing external and cooperative R&D simultaneously conditional on doing internal R&D. |
| Keywords: | Innovation, Open innovation, R&D collaboration, make, buy strategies |
| JEL: | O31 O32 |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:dgr:unumer:2013003&r=sbm |
| By: | Dietmar Harhoff; Elisabeth Mueller; John Van Reenen |
| Abstract: | Innovation processes within corporations increasingly tap into international technology sources, yet little is known about the relative contribution of different types of innovation channels. We investigate the effectiveness of different types of international technology sourcing activities using survey information on German companies complemented with information from the European Patent Office. German firms with inventors based in the US disproportionately benefit from R&D knowledge located in the US. The positive influence on total factor productivity is larger if the research of the inventors results in co-applications of patents with US companies. Moreover, research cooperation with American suppliers also enables German firms to better tap into US R&D, but cooperation with customers and competitors does not appear to aid technology sourcing. The results suggest that the "brain drain" to the US can have upsides for corporations tapping into American know-how. |
| Keywords: | technology sourcing, knowledge spillovers, productivity, open innovation |
| JEL: | O32 O33 |
| Date: | 2013–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cep:cepdps:dp1193&r=sbm |
| By: | Link, Albert N. (University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Department of Economics); Scott, John T. (Dartmouth College) |
| Abstract: | In the aftermath of the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the employment effects of public subsidies have been scrutinized because of new emphasis on public accountability and transparency. In this paper we investigate conditions in which public subsidies of research and development (R&D) in small firms stimulate employment growth. We find, based on an empirical analysis of employment growth induced by U.S. Department of Defense Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program awards, that the stimulated employment growth is greater under two conditions: one, the presence of outside investors providing additional funding for the R&D, and two, when an exceptional amount of intellectual property is created by the publicly subsidized R&D. In addition to outside investors, other firms that make commercial agreements with the subsidized firm appear important for the employment growth of the subsidized firm. Cooperation between the small business doing the R&D and other firms is an important determinant of the commercial success of the technologies created with the support of public funds. |
| Keywords: | Public subsidy of R&D; Intellectual property; Employment growth; Entrepreneurship; Cooperation |
| JEL: | J21 L26 O31 O38 |
| Date: | 2013–02–22 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ris:uncgec:2013_001&r=sbm |
| By: | Lööf, Hans (CESIS - Centre of Excellence for Science and Innovation Studies, Royal Institute of Technology); Nabavi, Pardis (CESIS - Centre of Excellence for Science and Innovation Studies, Royal Institute of Technology) |
| Abstract: | This paper is concerned with the productivity and growth of Swedish exporting firms. Using data on 9,580 manufacturing firms with 10 or more employees for the period 1997-2008, it estimates a dynamic GMM model that captures both the impact of recurrent knowledge investment through innovation and potential spillovers from the local milieu. The majority of the exporting firms are non-innovative. The data reveal that patent applicants located in knowledge intense milieus account for almost 40 percent of total Swedish exports, but only 2 percent of the firms. From the regressions it is shown that, relative to a firm that does not engage in innovation and has scarce access to external knowledge, the level of productivity is 2-12 percent higher for an innovative firm, depending on how innovation is defined and where the innovator is located. The annual long-run growth rate is 0.2-0.7 higher for innovative firms. Moreover, the performance gap between innovative and non-innovative exporters increases with accessibility to external knowledge for the former. |
| Keywords: | Productivity; exports; innovation; geographical knowledge spillovers; panel data |
| JEL: | C23 F14 L25 O31 R32 |
| Date: | 2013–01–17 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:cesisp:0296&r=sbm |
| By: | Noronha, Teresa (University of Algarve) |
| Abstract: | Firms, in general, have an absorptive capacity that permits them to recognize the value of new, external information, assimilate it, and apply it to commercial goals. This capacity results from their level of prior related knowledge and they can become creators of innovation in a context of micro and small sized young firms, coming up with innovative outputs. The first goal of this paper is to pursue this discussion in the context of KIBS (Knowledge Intensive Business Services) which are non-material firms, providing intangible and highly personalized services submitted to the general market rules. Also, the geography of KIBS will be emphasized by pointing out the restrictions related to its major role in the peripheral areas of the world. Therefore, this paper presents an analysis of cross country experiences, identifying bottlenecks and common results to demonstrate the major role of KIBS in such environments. The conclusion of the research is twofold: For peripheries, the innovation capacity of KIBS depends on their internal capacity to innovate (as pushing forces), but for KIBS, their main function depends on the readiness of their clients to use their skills to innovate (as pulling forces). This last determinant varies with the readiness of their clients to network and innovate and with their labor force to learn. |
| Keywords: | KIBS; Business services; Knowledge management; Peripheries |
| JEL: | L22 L25 O32 |
| Date: | 2013–02–13 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ris:cieodp:2013_004&r=sbm |
| By: | Porath, Amiram (CREST Expert Group) |
| Abstract: | Collaborative Research (CR) is usually regarded as a way to overcome several R&D barriers: the limitations of specific R&D projects resulting from lack of finance required for research infrastructure investment; the lack of expertise in industry (while it exists in academic institutes); and successful knowledge transfer. CR can be regarded as a strategic Open Innovation tool. In a book published in 2010 (Porath, 2010) I discussed CR on various aspects, analyzing it from the academic point of view and in the later part of the book on the practical aspects of participants and policy makers. Two recent books have been published, in which I have one chapter each. In the first one I presented a model (Porath, 2012a); and in the second a case study (Porath 2012b) regarding Open Innovation. These chapters have not dealt with CR as Open Innovation but rather presented another tool that has made Open Innovation a strategy for companies with little other choice. In this chapter I will combine the three sources into a more comprehensive picture. |
| Keywords: | Collaborative research; Open innovation; Knowledge management |
| JEL: | L14 L17 O32 |
| Date: | 2013–02–13 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ris:cieodp:2013_001&r=sbm |
| By: | Andersson, Martin (CIRCLE Lund University, Blekinge Institute of Technology) |
| Abstract: | It is often claimed that there are locally embedded values and attitudes towards entrepreneurship, exerting a strong influence on the rate and level of entrepreneurial activity in regions. The concept of regional entrepreneurship culture aims to capture such phenomena, and refers in a general sense to the level of social acceptance and encouragement of entrepreneurs and their activities in a region. This paper discusses regional entrepreneurship culture as a source of persistent differences in regional rates of new firm formation, and presents a number of empirical regularities for Sweden to illustrate the empirical relevance of the main arguments. Using data on rates of new firm formation across Swedish regions over time, the paper further explores the association between start-up activity and the business cycle, as well as how the geographic distribution of start-up rates changes during a major economic crisis. |
| Keywords: | entrepreneurship; start-ups; geography; culture; business cycles; social capital; persistence |
| JEL: | L26 O18 R11 R12 |
| Date: | 2013–01–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:lucirc:2013_001&r=sbm |