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Firms’ Innovation Objectives And Knowledge Acquisition Strategies

Author

Listed:
  • STEPHEN ROPER

    (Enterprise Research Centre, the Productivity Institute and National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise, Warwick Business School, University of Warwick, England)

  • BETTINA BECKER

    (��Enterprise Research Centre, Durham University Business School and University of Tartu, Estonia3Durham University Business School, Mill Hill Lane, Durham DH1 3LB, United Kingdom)

  • JAMES H. LOVE

    (��Enterprise Research Centre, Leeds University Business School and University of Tartu, Estonia)

  • KAREN BONNER

    (�Enterprise Research Centre and Ulster University Economic Policy Centre, United Kingdom)

Abstract

External partnerships play an important role in firms’ acquisition of the knowledge inputs to innovation. Such knowledge acquisition may be interactive - involving exploration and mutual learning - or non-interactive - involving exploitative activity and learning by only one party. Here, we consider how firms’ innovation objectives influence their choice of interactive and/or non-interactive knowledge search. We conduct a comparative analysis for Spain and the UK, which have contrasting innovation eco-systems and regulation burdens. Three empirical results emerge. First, we find strong support for complementarity between non-interactive and interactive knowledge search. Second, we find that where firms have innovation objectives relating to product or service improvement, they are more likely to establish non-interactive search strategies. Third, the innovation objective of reducing environmental impact is significantly related to both, interactive and non-interactive knowledge acquisition strategies. This is likely related to the increasing awareness of the need to promote an agenda based on sustainable growth.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephen Roper & Bettina Becker & James H. Love & Karen Bonner, 2022. "Firms’ Innovation Objectives And Knowledge Acquisition Strategies," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 26(04), pages 1-33, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:wsi:ijimxx:v:26:y:2022:i:04:n:s1363919622500256
    DOI: 10.1142/S1363919622500256
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    Cited by:

    1. Becker, Bettina & Roper, Stephen & Vanino, Enrico, 2023. "Assessing innovation spillovers from publicly funded R&D and innovation support: Evidence from the UK," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).

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