IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/jbrese/v128y2021icp812-823.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

R&D internationalization and innovation: A systematic review, integrative framework and future research directions

Author

Listed:
  • Vrontis, Demetris
  • Christofi, Michael

Abstract

Research on research and development (R&D) internationalization appears in several disciplines, with significant contributions in innovation, international business, management, and strategy research. Although the phenomenon is widely used in both research and practice, the impact of this concept on innovation is still not clear due to the multi-disciplinary nature of this relationship. This research gap is the motivation for the present study. Through a systematic review of 42 articles on R&D internationalization appearing in publication outlets for more than two decades, this paper examines the impact of R&D internationalization on innovation within the firm's boundaries. Based on this analysis, we map extant literature on the topic and we present an integrative framework of this relationship for future scholars to further build on, and executives to be guided by.

Suggested Citation

  • Vrontis, Demetris & Christofi, Michael, 2021. "R&D internationalization and innovation: A systematic review, integrative framework and future research directions," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 812-823.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:128:y:2021:i:c:p:812-823
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.03.031
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0148296319302036
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.03.031?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Piperopoulos, Panagiotis & Wu, Jie & Wang, Chengqi, 2018. "Outward FDI, location choices and innovation performance of emerging market enterprises," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(1), pages 232-240.
    2. Susan Bartholomew, 1997. "National Systems of Biotechnology Innovation: Complex Interdependence in the Global System," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 28(2), pages 241-266, June.
    3. Paul Almeida & Anupama Phene, 2004. "Subsidiaries and knowledge creation: the influence of the MNC and host country on innovation," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(8‐9), pages 847-864, August.
    4. Deepa Mani & Kannan Srikanth & Anandhi Bharadwaj, 2014. "Efficacy of R&D Work in Offshore Captive Centers: An Empirical Study of Task Characteristics, Coordination Mechanisms, and Performance," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 25(4), pages 846-864, December.
    5. Catherine Lecocq & Bart Leten & Jeroen Kusters & Bart van Looy, 2012. "Do Firms Benefit from being Present in Multiple Technology Clusters? An Assessment of the Technological Performance of Biopharmaceutical Firms," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 46(9), pages 1107-1119, October.
    6. René Belderbos & Boris Lokshin & Bert Sadowski, 2015. "The returns to foreign R&D," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 46(4), pages 491-504, May.
    7. Duysters, Geert & Hagedoorn, John, 1996. "Internationalization of corporate technology through strategic partnering: an empirical investigation," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 25(1), pages 1-12, January.
    8. Alicia Rodríguez & María Jesús Nieto, 2016. "Does R&D offshoring lead to SME growth? Different governance modes and the mediating role of innovation," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(8), pages 1734-1753, August.
    9. Oli R. Mihalache & Justin J. J. P. Jansen & Frans A. J. Van Den Bosch & Henk W. Volberda, 2012. "Offshoring and firm innovation: The moderating role of top management team attributes," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(13), pages 1480-1498, December.
    10. Zanfei, Antonello, 2000. "Transnational Firms and the Changing Organisation of Innovative Activities," Cambridge Journal of Economics, Oxford University Press, vol. 24(5), pages 515-542, September.
    11. Snyder, Hannah & Witell, Lars & Gustafsson, Anders & Fombelle, Paul & Kristensson, Per, 2016. "Identifying categories of service innovation: A review and synthesis of the literature," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(7), pages 2401-2408.
    12. Singh, Jasjit, 2008. "Distributed R&D, cross-regional knowledge integration and quality of innovative output," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(1), pages 77-96, February.
    13. Mary M. Crossan & Marina Apaydin, 2010. "A Multi‐Dimensional Framework of Organizational Innovation: A Systematic Review of the Literature," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(6), pages 1154-1191, September.
    14. Hegde, Deepak & Hicks, Diana, 2008. "The maturation of global corporate R&D: Evidence from the activity of U.S. foreign subsidiaries," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(3), pages 390-406, April.
    15. Macpherson, Allan & Holt, Robin, 2007. "Knowledge, learning and small firm growth: A systematic review of the evidence," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(2), pages 172-192, March.
    16. Ambos, Bjorn, 2005. "Foreign direct investment in industrial research and development: A study of German MNCs," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(4), pages 395-410, May.
    17. Hottenrott, Hanna & Lopes-Bento, Cindy, 2014. "(International) R&D collaboration and SMEs: The effectiveness of targeted public R&D support schemes," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(6), pages 1055-1066.
    18. Iwasa, Tomoko & Odagiri, Hiroyuki, 2004. "Overseas R&D, knowledge sourcing, and patenting: an empirical study of Japanese R&D investment in the US," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 33(5), pages 807-828, July.
    19. Christian Zeller, 2004. "North Atlantic Innovative Relations of Swiss Pharmaceuticals and the Proximities with Regional Biotech Arenas," Economic Geography, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 80(1), pages 83-111, January.
    20. Oliveira, Pedro & von Hippel, Eric, 2011. "Users as service innovators: The case of banking services," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 40(6), pages 806-818, July.
    21. Prithwiraj Choudhury, 2017. "Innovation Outcomes in a Distributed Organization: Intrafirm Mobility and Access to Resources," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 28(2), pages 339-354, April.
    22. Niosi, Jorge & Godin, Benoit, 1999. "Canadian R&D abroad management practices," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 28(2-3), pages 215-230, March.
    23. Snehal Awate & Marcus M Larsen & Ram Mudambi, 2015. "Accessing vs sourcing knowledge: A comparative study of R&D internationalization between emerging and advanced economy firms," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 46(1), pages 63-86, January.
    24. Olivier Bertrand & Michael J. Mol, 2013. "The antecedents and innovation effects of domestic and offshore R&D outsourcing: The contingent impact of cognitive distance and absorptive capacity," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(6), pages 751-760, June.
    25. Li, Xiaoying & Wang, Jue & Liu, Xiaming, 2013. "Can locally-recruited R&D personnel significantly contribute to multinational subsidiary innovation in an emerging economy?," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 22(4), pages 639-651.
    26. María Jesús Nieto & Alicia Rodríguez, 2011. "Offshoring of R&D: Looking abroad to improve innovation performance," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 42(3), pages 345-361, April.
    27. Hurtado-Torres, Nuria E. & Aragón-Correa, J. Alberto & Ortiz-de-Mandojana, Natalia, 2018. "How does R&D internationalization in multinational firms affect their innovative performance? The moderating role of international collaboration in the energy industry," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(3), pages 514-527.
    28. Anupama Phene & Paul Almeida, 2008. "Innovation in multinational subsidiaries: The role of knowledge assimilation and subsidiary capabilities," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 39(5), pages 901-919, July.
    29. Filippaios, Fragkiskos & Papanastassiou, Marina & Pearce, Robert & Rama, Ruth, 2009. "New forms of organisation and R&D internationalisation among the world's 100 largest food and beverages multinationals," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(6), pages 1032-1043, July.
    30. Beugelsdijk, Sjoerd & Jindra, Björn, 2018. "Product innovation and decision-making autonomy in subsidiaries of multinational companies," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 53(4), pages 529-539.
    31. Winterhalter, Stephan & Zeschky, Marco B. & Neumann, Lukas & Gassmann, Oliver, 2017. "Business Models for Frugal Innovation in Emerging Markets: The Case of the Medical Device and Laboratory Equipment Industry," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 66, pages 3-13.
    32. Michailova, Snejina & Zhan, Wu, 2015. "Dynamic capabilities and innovation in MNC subsidiaries," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 50(3), pages 576-583.
    33. Florida, Richard, 1997. "The globalization of R&D: Results of a survey of foreign-affiliated R&D laboratories in the USA," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 26(1), pages 85-103, March.
    34. Paulo N. Figueiredo, 2011. "The Role of Dual Embeddedness in the Innovative Performance of MNE Subsidiaries: Evidence from Brazil," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(2), pages 417-440, March.
    35. Miotti, Luis & Sachwald, Frederique, 2003. "Co-operative R&D: why and with whom?: An integrated framework of analysis," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 32(8), pages 1481-1499, September.
    36. Hsu, Chia-Wen & Lien, Yung-Chih & Chen, Homin, 2015. "R&D internationalization and innovation performance," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 24(2), pages 187-195.
    37. Tufool Alnuaimi & Jasjit Singh & Gerard George, 2012. "Not with my own: long-term effects of cross-country collaboration on subsidiary innovation in emerging economies versus advanced economies," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 12(5), pages 943-968, September.
    38. Rakesh B. Sambharya & Jooh Lee, 2014. "Renewing Dynamic Capabilities Globally: An Empirical Study of the World’s Largest MNCs," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 54(2), pages 137-169, April.
    39. Witell, Lars & Snyder, Hannah & Gustafsson, Anders & Fombelle, Paul & Kristensson, Per, 2016. "Defining service innovation: A review and synthesis," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(8), pages 2863-2872.
    40. Joan Penner‐Hahn & J. Myles Shaver, 2005. "Does international research and development increase patent output? An analysis of Japanese pharmaceutical firms," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(2), pages 121-140, February.
    41. Belderbos, Rene, 2001. "Overseas innovations by Japanese firms: an analysis of patent and subsidiary data," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 30(2), pages 313-332, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Tse, Caleb H. & Yim, Chi Kin Bennett & Yin, Eden & Wan, Feng & Jiao, Hao, 2021. "R&D activities and innovation performance of MNE subsidiaries: The moderating effects of government support and entry mode," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    2. Hung, Tung Min & Contractor, Farok & Lo, Yi-Ju, 2022. "Manage the value and liability of offshoring innovation," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(2).
    3. Patricia Laurens & Pierluigi Toma & Antoine Schoen & Cinzia Daraio & Philippe Larédo, 2022. "How does Internationalisation affect the productivity of R&D activities in large innovative firms? A conditional nonparametric investigation," Post-Print hal-03840316, HAL.
    4. Sasa Ding & Frank McDonald & Yingqi Wei, 2021. "Is Internationalization Beneficial to Innovation? Evidence from a Meta-analysis," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 61(4), pages 469-519, August.
    5. Jingjing Li & Gang Liu & Zihan Ma, 2021. "RD internationalization, domestic technology alliance, and innovation in emerging market," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(6), pages 1-35, June.
    6. Marina Papanastassiou & Robert Pearce & Antonello Zanfei, 2020. "Changing perspectives on the internationalization of R&D and innovation by multinational enterprises: A review of the literature," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(4), pages 623-664, June.
    7. Beugelsdijk, Sjoerd & Jindra, Björn, 2018. "Product innovation and decision-making autonomy in subsidiaries of multinational companies," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 53(4), pages 529-539.
    8. Cozza, Claudio & Franco, Chiara & Perani, Giulio, 2018. "R&D endowments at home driving R&D internationalisation: Evidence from the Italian business R&D survey," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 277-289.
    9. Jaana Rahko, 2016. "Internationalization of corporate R&D activities and innovation performance," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 25(6), pages 1019-1038.
    10. Rene Belderbos & Bart Leten & Shinya Suzuki, 2009. "Does Excellence in Academic Research Attract Foreign R&D?," Global COE Hi-Stat Discussion Paper Series gd09-079, Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University.
    11. Hertenstein, Peter & Williamson, Peter J., 2018. "The role of suppliers in enabling differing innovation strategies of competing multinationals from emerging and advanced economies: German and Chinese automotive firms compared," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 70, pages 46-58.
    12. Hohberger, Jan & Wilden, Ralf, 2022. "Geographic diversity of knowledge inputs: The importance of aligning locations of knowledge inputs and inventors," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 705-719.
    13. Jian Du & Shan Zhu & Wen Helena Li, 2023. "Innovation through internationalization: A systematic review and research agenda," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 40(3), pages 1217-1251, September.
    14. Hurtado-Torres, Nuria E. & Aragón-Correa, J. Alberto & Ortiz-de-Mandojana, Natalia, 2018. "How does R&D internationalization in multinational firms affect their innovative performance? The moderating role of international collaboration in the energy industry," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(3), pages 514-527.
    15. Klaus E. Meyer & Chengguang Li & Andreas P. J. Schotter, 0. "Managing the MNE subsidiary: Advancing a multi-level and dynamic research agenda," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 0, pages 1-39.
    16. René Belderbos & Boris Lokshin & Bert Sadowski, 2015. "The returns to foreign R&D," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 46(4), pages 491-504, May.
    17. Vittoria G. Scalera & Alessandra Perri & T. J. Hannigan, 2018. "Knowledge connectedness within and across home country borders: Spatial heterogeneity and the technological scope of firm innovations," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 49(8), pages 990-1009, October.
    18. Klaus E. Meyer & Chengguang Li & Andreas P. J. Schotter, 2020. "Managing the MNE subsidiary: Advancing a multi-level and dynamic research agenda," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(4), pages 538-576, June.
    19. René Belderbos & Leo Sleuwaegen & Reinhilde Veugelers, 2010. "Market Integration and Technological Leadership in Europe," European Economy - Economic Papers 2008 - 2015 403, Directorate General Economic and Financial Affairs (DG ECFIN), European Commission.
    20. Yunlong Duan & Hanxiao Liu & Zhiqing Deng & Peng Tao, 2021. "The Impact of Cross-Border R&D Sourcing on the Innovation Quality of MNCs, from the Perspective of Business Model Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-22, April.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:128:y:2021:i:c:p:812-823. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jbusres .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.