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Search Strategies in Innovation Networks: The Case of the Hungarian Food Industry

Author

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  • József Tóth

    (Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Corvinus University of Budapest, 1093 Budapest, Hungary
    Faculty of Economics, Socio-Human Sciences and Engineering, Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania, 530104 Miercurea Ciuc, Piaţa Libertăţii nr. 1, Romania)

  • Giuseppina Rizzo

    (Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy)

Abstract

In the food sector, open innovation has become of particular interest. This paper considers open innovation search strategies in the food and beverages industry and examines the probability of using different innovation sources with respect to the type of innovation. Although the information search for new ideas, tools and solutions in the innovation process regarding the scope and depth is well explored and interpreted in the literature, the probability of using the different sources with respect to type of innovation is rarely investigated. To answer these questions, first a probit, then OLS regression model is adopted, in order to understand the chance of a specific source of information being chosen, and then, to verify how much of these sources are selected in different types of innovation. Findings show that food companies use several kinds of information sources during their product, process, organization and market innovation development processes and apply different sourcing strategies based on innovation type. The study concludes that managers have to take into consideration the type of innovation when they formulate their innovation search strategies. Moreover, if they would like to strive on the European, or even more on the world market, they necessarily have to cooperate with universities and research institutes. Our recommendation for policymakers is that they should encourage the food companies in creation of a viable information network with their business, scientific and professional partners. It is also important that they help the food producers in their continuous innovation activities as well as in expanding their business to European, or even more, to world level.

Suggested Citation

  • József Tóth & Giuseppina Rizzo, 2020. "Search Strategies in Innovation Networks: The Case of the Hungarian Food Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-18, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:5:p:1752-:d:325338
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    2. Judit Oláh & Yusmar Ardhi Hidayat & Beata Gavurova & Muhammad Asif Khan & József Popp, 2021. "Trust levels within categories of information and communication technology companies," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(6), pages 1-21, June.
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    5. Irena Pawłyszyn & Marek Fertsch & Agnieszka Stachowiak & Grzegorz Pawłowski & Joanna Oleśków-Szłapka, 2020. "The Model of Diffusion of Knowledge on Industry 4.0 in Marshallian Clusters," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-23, May.

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