| Abstract: |
This paper attempts to use an integrated theory based on a firm’s internal and
external sources of knowledge framework to analyze how different are R&D from
non-R&D activities to innovate, specially in a context of low and medium low
tech (LMT) sectors where most of the firms are SMEs. Simultaneously, the paper
also explores the key differences between R&D and non-R&D innovators. The
empirical analysis is based on a representative panel of 2023 Spanish
manufacturing firms for 2005 and 2006 from the Spanish Ministry of Industry.
Innovation in product and process is explained using non-R&D variables such as
in Marketing, Design or hiring tertiary degree employees. Only innovation in
product is explained by R&D expenditures. Addressing innovation in process,
R&D variables work in few cases and neither R&D expenditures but occasionally
R&D employees and are specially relevant the non-R&D variables. The
interaction (moderating) effect is specially negative and significant,
addressing the substitution effect with different implications regarding
product or process innovation. Therefore, innovation can be explained using
non-R&D variables such as investments in Marketing, Design, and other routines
linked to human resources, technology monitoring committees or the existence
of a formal plan to innovate. The firms with more internal resources, those
which conduct R&D activities present a better AC and it leads to engage in
cooperation agreements and access to external flows of knowledge. The paper
has important implications for policymakers due to the fact that most of
policies for R&D are based on R&D programmes, while there are other realities:
non-R&D factors which also explain innovation, specially when considering low
tech sector contexts. El presente artículo usa la teoría de recursos y
capacidades para, a través de los recursos internos y externos de las
empresas, analizar las actividades de R&D y las actividades de no-R&D en su
impacto sobre la performance de innovación de la empresa, en un contexto
sectorial de baja y media tecnología. Asimismo, el artículo explora el rol
innovador de las empresas que hacen R&D y las que no lo hacen. Con una muestra
de 2023 empresas manufactureras españolas, obtenemos un comportamiento
innovador para la innovación en producto y en proceso y, sobre todo,
observando que las actividades de R&D tienen muy poco peso explicativo sobre
el resultado de innovación. El artículo presenta implicaciones para la
Academia y los policymakers, sobre todo por el hecho de que la mayoría de las
políticas de innovación se basan en actividades de R&D. |
| Keywords: |
fuentes de innovación, estrategias de búsqueda de conocimiento externo, cooperación tecnológica, capacidad de absorción. innovation sources, technology cooperation, absorptive capacity, search strategies. |