IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/nbr/nberwo/21424.html
   My bibliography  Save this paper

Corporate Venture Capital as a Real Option in the Markets for Technology

Author

Listed:
  • Marco Ceccagnoli
  • Matthew J. Higgins
  • Hyunsung D. Kang

Abstract

Despite the fact that one of the main goals of corporate venture capital (CVC) investments in high-tech industries is to gain a window on future technologies, the relationship between CVC investments and strategies used to acquire technologies in the markets, such as licensing, has not been adequately explored. To address this gap, we build on the real option literature suggesting that CVC investments can be used as real options in the markets for technology. Accordingly, we formulate hypotheses about key drivers of the option value of CVC investments and the decision to exercise the option. Using a longitudinal dataset based on 604 dyads formed by a sample of global pharmaceutical firms and their external technology partners, we find that corporate investors’ scientific capabilities, technological domains, research pipelines, and the resolution of exogenous uncertainty related to partner firms’ technologies impact investors’ decisions on CVC investments and ex post technology acquisition. In our research setting, the most common way to exercise the option post-CVC investment is via technology licensing.

Suggested Citation

  • Marco Ceccagnoli & Matthew J. Higgins & Hyunsung D. Kang, 2015. "Corporate Venture Capital as a Real Option in the Markets for Technology," NBER Working Papers 21424, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
  • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:21424
    Note: CF PR
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.nber.org/papers/w21424.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    Other versions of this item:

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. van de Vrande, Vareska & Vanhaverbeke, Wim & Duysters, Geert, 2009. "External technology sourcing: The effect of uncertainty on governance mode choice," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 24(1), pages 62-80, January.
    2. Gary Dushnitsky & J. Myles Shaver, 2009. "Limitations to interorganizational knowledge acquisition: the paradox of corporate venture capital," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(10), pages 1045-1064, October.
    3. Dushnitsky, Gary & Lenox, Michael J., 2005. "When do incumbents learn from entrepreneurial ventures?: Corporate venture capital and investing firm innovation rates," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(5), pages 615-639, June.
    4. Benson, David & Ziedonis, Rosemarie H., 2010. "Corporate venture capital and the returns to acquiring portfolio companies," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 98(3), pages 478-499, December.
    5. Morck, Randall K. (ed.), 2000. "Concentrated Corporate Ownership," National Bureau of Economic Research Books, University of Chicago Press, edition 1, number 9780226536781, December.
    6. John Hagedoorn & Geert Duysters, 2002. "External Sources of Innovative Capabilities: The Preferences for Strategic Alliances or Mergers and Acquisitions," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(2), pages 167-188, March.
    7. Markku V. J. Maula & Thomas Keil & Shaker A. Zahra, 2013. "Top Management’s Attention to Discontinuous Technological Change: Corporate Venture Capital as an Alert Mechanism," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 24(3), pages 926-947, June.
    8. Basu, Sandip & Phelps, Corey & Kotha, Suresh, 2011. "Towards understanding who makes corporate venture capital investments and why," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 26(2), pages 153-171, March.
    9. Higgins, Matthew J. & Rodriguez, Daniel, 2006. "The outsourcing of R&D through acquisitions in the pharmaceutical industry," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 80(2), pages 351-383, May.
    10. Maurizio Zollo & Jeffrey J. Reuer, 2010. "Experience Spillovers Across Corporate Development Activities," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 21(6), pages 1195-1212, December.
    11. Goldman, Eitan & Qian, Jun, 2005. "Optimal toeholds in takeover contests," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 77(2), pages 321-346, August.
    12. Paul Gompers & Josh Lerner, 2006. "The Venture Capital Cycle, 2nd Edition," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 1, volume 1, number 0262572389, December.
    13. David Benson & Rosemarie H. Ziedonis, 2009. "Corporate Venture Capital as a Window on New Technologies: Implications for the Performance of Corporate Investors When Acquiring Startups," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 20(2), pages 329-351, April.
    14. Bruce Kogut, 1991. "Joint Ventures and the Option to Expand and Acquire," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 37(1), pages 19-33, January.
    15. Corey C. Phelps & Sandip Basu & Suresh Kotha, 2011. "Towards understanding who makes corporate venture capital investments and why," Post-Print hal-00575634, HAL.
    16. Vareska Van de Vrande & Wim Vanhaverbeke, 2013. "How Prior Corporate Venture Capital Investments Shape Technological Alliances: A Real Options Approach," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 37(5), pages 1019-1043, September.
    17. Akbar Zaheer & Exequiel Hernandez & Sanjay Banerjee, 2010. "Prior Alliances with Targets and Acquisition Performance in Knowledge-Intensive Industries," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 21(5), pages 1072-1091, October.
    18. Haemin Dennis Park & H. Kevin Steensma, 2012. "When does corporate venture capital add value for new ventures?," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(1), pages 1-22, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Jeon, Euiju & Maula, Markku, 2022. "Progress toward understanding tensions in corporate venture capital: A systematic review," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 37(4).
    2. Dushnitsky, Gary & Yu, Lei, 2022. "Why do incumbents fund startups? A study of the antecedents of corporate venture capital in China," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(3).
    3. Peters, Bettina & Marks, Hannes & Trunschke, Markus & Grimpe, Christoph & Sofka, Wolfgang & Czarnitzki, Dirk, 2023. "Schwerpunktstudie Technologiemärkte," Studien zum deutschen Innovationssystem 9-2023, Expertenkommission Forschung und Innovation (EFI) - Commission of Experts for Research and Innovation, Berlin.
    4. Moreira, Solon & Klueter, Thomas Maximilian & Asija, Aman, 2023. "Market for technology 2.0? Reassessing the role of complementary assets on licensing decisions," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(7).
    5. Langley, Paul & Rieple, Alison, 2021. "Incumbents’ capabilities to win in a digitised world: The case of the fashion industry," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    6. Yongwook Paik & Heejin Woo, 2017. "The Effects of Corporate Venture Capital, Founder Incumbency, and Their Interaction on Entrepreneurial Firms’ R&D Investment Strategies," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 28(4), pages 670-689, August.
    7. Andrés, Pablo de & Fuente, Gabriel de la & Velasco, Pilar, 2021. "Exercising a firm’s growth options: A portfolio approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 571-585.

    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. Jeon, Euiju & Maula, Markku, 2022. "Progress toward understanding tensions in corporate venture capital: A systematic review," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 37(4).
    2. Patrick Röhm, 2018. "Exploring the landscape of corporate venture capital: a systematic review of the entrepreneurial and finance literature," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 68(3), pages 279-319, August.
    3. Vareska Van de Vrande & Wim Vanhaverbeke, 2013. "How Prior Corporate Venture Capital Investments Shape Technological Alliances: A Real Options Approach," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 37(5), pages 1019-1043, September.
    4. Varkey K. Titus Jr. & Brian S. Anderson, 2018. "Firm Structure and Environment as Contingencies to the Corporate Venture Capital-Parent Firm Value Relationship," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 42(3), pages 498-522, May.
    5. Lin, Jun-You, 2020. "What affects new venture firm’s innovation more in corporate venture capital?," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 38(4), pages 646-660.
    6. Maxin, Hannes, 2018. "The Corporate Venture Capital Exit Decision," VfS Annual Conference 2018 (Freiburg, Breisgau): Digital Economy 181647, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    7. Kang Hyunsung D, 2018. "A Start-Up’s R&D Stages and the Evolution of Financing Sources: Evidence from the Biotechnology Industry," Entrepreneurship Research Journal, De Gruyter, vol. 8(3), pages 1-19, July.
    8. Shuwaikh, Fatima & Dubocage, Emmanuelle, 2022. "Access to the Corporate Investors' Complementary Resources: A Leverage for Innovation in Biotech Venture Capital-Backed Companies," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    9. Yongwook Paik & Heejin Woo, 2017. "The Effects of Corporate Venture Capital, Founder Incumbency, and Their Interaction on Entrepreneurial Firms’ R&D Investment Strategies," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 28(4), pages 670-689, August.
    10. Stienstra, Miranda, 2020. "The determinants and performance implications of alliance partner acquisition," Other publications TiSEM 7fdee0c2-d4d2-4f5b-95e3-2, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    11. Lee, Simon U. & Park, Gunno & Kang, Jina, 2018. "The double-edged effects of the corporate venture capital unit's structural autonomy on corporate investors' explorative and exploitative innovation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 141-149.
    12. Wadhwa, Anu & Phelps, Corey & Kotha, Suresh, 2016. "Corporate venture capital portfolios and firm innovation," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 31(1), pages 95-112.
    13. Patrick Haslanger & Erik E. Lehmann & Nikolaus Seitz, 2023. "The performance effects of corporate venture capital: a meta-analysis," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 48(6), pages 2132-2160, December.
    14. Øyvind Bjørgum, 2016. "MNCs entering an emerging industry: The choice of governance mode under high uncertainty," Cogent Business & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 3(1), pages 1258135-125, December.
    15. David Bendig & Simon Hensellek & Julian Schulte, 2024. "Beneficial, Harmful, or Both? Effects of Corporate Venture Capital and Alliance Activity on Product Recalls," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 48(1), pages 35-70, January.
    16. Luc Armel G. Da Gbadji & Benoit Gailly & Armin Schwienbacher, 2015. "International Analysis of Venture Capital Programs of Large Corporations and Financial Institutions," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 39(5), pages 1213-1246, September.
    17. Dushnitsky, Gary & Yu, Lei, 2022. "Why do incumbents fund startups? A study of the antecedents of corporate venture capital in China," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(3).
    18. Hannes Maxin, 2020. "Corporate venture capital and the nature of innovation," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(1), pages 1-30, January.
    19. Tawiah, Bernard & O’Connor Keefe, Michael, 2022. "Financing a corporate venture capital program," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    20. Jeffrey J. Reuer & Ramakrishna Devarakonda, 2017. "Partner Selection in R&D Collaborations: Effects of Affiliations with Venture Capitalists," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 28(3), pages 574-595, June.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance
    • L24 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Contracting Out; Joint Ventures
    • L65 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing - - - Chemicals; Rubber; Drugs; Biotechnology; Plastics
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D

    NEP fields

    This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:nbr:nberwo:21424. 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: the person in charge (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/nberrus.html .

    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.