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When should a firm collaborate with research organizations for innovation performance? The moderating role of innovation orientation, size, and age

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  • Gun Jea Yu

    (Hongik University)

  • Joonkyum Lee

    (Sogang University)

Abstract

Little is known about the conditions strengthening or weakening the impact of a firm’s collaboration with research organizations on innovation performance. Thus, this study uses a sample of 542 manufacturing firms in Korea to examine how innovation orientation and firm size and age as internal characteristics influence the relationship between collaboration with research organizations and innovation performance. The results show that collaboration with research organizations has a positive impact on innovation performance. More importantly, this effect is stronger (weaker) for firms with a strong orientation toward exploration (exploitation). In addition, older or larger firms obtain greater benefits from collaboration with research organizations. This study contributes toward clarifying a firm’s collaboration with research organizations.

Suggested Citation

  • Gun Jea Yu & Joonkyum Lee, 2017. "When should a firm collaborate with research organizations for innovation performance? The moderating role of innovation orientation, size, and age," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 42(6), pages 1451-1465, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jtecht:v:42:y:2017:i:6:d:10.1007_s10961-016-9469-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s10961-016-9469-4
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    5. Wenjing Wang & Yiwei Liu, 2021. "Community-level characteristics and member firms’ invention: evidence from university–industry innovation community in China," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(11), pages 8913-8934, November.
    6. Duong, Phuong-Anh Nguyen & Voordeckers, Wim & Huybrechts, Jolien & Lambrechts, Frank, 2022. "On external knowledge sources and innovation performance: Family versus non-family firms," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
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    8. Muhammad Masood Azeem & Syed Fazal‐e‐Hasan & Leopoldo Gutiérrez & Derek Baker, 2022. "Does functional diversity in interfirm collaborations lead to innovation diversity? Firm‐level evidence from the Australian food industry," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 66(3), pages 612-637, July.
    9. Arias-Pérez, José & Vélez-Jaramillo, Juan, 2022. "Ignoring the three-way interaction of digital orientation, Not-invented-here syndrome and employee's artificial intelligence awareness in digital innovation performance: A recipe for failure," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    10. García-Vega, María & Vicente-Chirivella, Óscar, 2020. "Do university technology transfers increase firms’ innovation?," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 123(C).
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Research organization; Collaboration; Exploitation and exploration; Innovation performance; Moderating effect;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D

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