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Technological diversification: a matter of related or unrelated varieties?

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  • Zabala-Iturriagagoitia, Jon Mikel
  • Porto Gómez, Igone
  • Aguirre Larracoechea, Urko

Abstract

This paper contributes to the 50th-anniversary special issue of Technological Forecasting and Social Change, by discussing the extent to which firms, sectors and territories follow related and/or unrelated diversification strategies in periods of economic expansion and economic crises. The paper addresses this critical question by examining the evolution of the technological diversification of firms located in the Basque Country. We analyze all the WIPO patents granted to Basque companies in the period 1991–2011 (n = 1102) and their technology classes (m = 1177). We measure technological diversification over time, both at the territorial and sectoral levels, using the concept of entropy.

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  • Zabala-Iturriagagoitia, Jon Mikel & Porto Gómez, Igone & Aguirre Larracoechea, Urko, 2020. "Technological diversification: a matter of related or unrelated varieties?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:155:y:2020:i:c:s0040162519304081
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2020.119997
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    2. Lee, Hyunmin, 2023. "Strategic similarity in the co-evolution of technological and business diversification for firm growth: Evidence from smart-manufacturing related firms," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).

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