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Social Networks, Learning, and Flexibility: Sourcing Scientific Knowledge in New Biotechnology Firms

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Author Info
Julia Porter Liebeskind
Amalya Lumerman Oliver
Lynne G. Zucker
Marilynn B. Brewer

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Abstract

We examine how two highly successful new biotechnology firms (NBFs) source their most critical input -- scientific knowledge. We find that scientists at the two NBFs enter into large numbers of collaborative research efforts with scientists at other organizations, especially universities. Formal market contracts are rarely used to govern these exchanges of scientific knowledge. Our findings suggest that the use of boundary-spanning social networks by the two NBFs increases both their learning and their flexibility in ways that would not be possible within a self-contained hierarchical organization.

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Paper provided by National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc in its series NBER Working Papers with number 5320.

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Date of creation: Oct 1995
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Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:5320

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Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
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Cited by:
(explanations, Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.)

  1. Amalya Oliver, 1994. "In Between Markets and Hierarchies - Networking Through the Life Cycle of New Biotechnology Firms," Institute for Social Science Research, Working Paper Series issr-1005, Institute for Social Science Research, UCLA. [Downloadable!]
  2. Cassiman, Bruno & Veugelers, Reinhilde, 2003. "R&D Cooperation Between Firms and Universities: Some Empirical Evidence from Belgian Manufacturing," CEPR Discussion Papers 3951, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
    Other versions:
  3. Cassiman, Bruno & Veugelers, Rainhilde, 2003. "Which firms have cooperative R&D agreements with universities? Some empirical evidence from Belgian manufacturing," IESE Research Papers D/502, IESE Business School. [Downloadable!]
  4. Masao Nakamura & Robert Dalpé, 2003. "Interaction between public research organizations and industry in biotechnology," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 24(2-3), pages 171-185. [Downloadable!]
  5. Peter B. Meyer, 2003. "Episodes of Collective Invention," Working Papers 368, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. [Downloadable!]
  6. Maria Bengtsson & Anders Söderholm, 2002. "Bridging Distances: Organizing Boundary-spanning Technology Development Projects," Regional Studies, Taylor and Francis Journals, vol. 36(3), pages 263-274, May. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  7. Wai-Ki Fu & Hing-Po Lo & Derek Drew, 2006. "Collective learning, collective knowledge and learning networks in construction," Construction Management & Economics, Taylor and Francis Journals, vol. 24(10), pages 1019-1028, December. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  8. Lazzarini, Sergio G. & Mesquita, Luiz F. & Claro, Danny P., 2007. "Buyer-Supplier and Supplier-Supplier Alliances: Do They Reinforce or Undermine One Another?," Ibmec Working Papers wpe_82, Ibmec Working Paper, Ibmec São Paulo. [Downloadable!]
  9. Terttu Luukkonen, 2003. "Variability in Forms of Organisation in Biotechnology Firms," Discussion Papers 872, The Research Institute of the Finnish Economy. [Downloadable!]
  10. Donald Siegel & David Waldman & Albert Link, 1999. "Assessing the Impact of Organizational Practices on the Productivity of University Technology Transfer Offices: An Exploratory Study," NBER Working Papers 7256, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  11. Lynne G. Zucker & Michael R. Darby & Yusheng Peng, 1998. "Fundamentals or Population Dynamics and the Geographic Distribution of U.S. Biotechnology Enterprises, 1976-1989," NBER Working Papers 6414, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  12. Albert N. Link & Donald S. Siegel & Barry Bozeman, 2006. "An Empirical Analysis of the Propensity of Academics to Engage in Informal University Technology Transfer," Rensselaer Working Papers in Economics 0610, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Department of Economics. [Downloadable!]
  13. Soh, Pek Hooi, 1966- & Roberts, Edward Baer. & International Center for Research on the Management of Technology., 1998. "The patterns of interorganizational networks in the development of data communication technologies," Working papers 173-98, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Sloan School of Management. [Downloadable!]
  14. David Audretsch & Erik Lehmann, 2006. "Do locational spillovers pay? empirical evidence from German IPO data," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor and Francis Journals, vol. 15(1), pages 71-81, January. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
    Other versions:
  15. Lynne G. Zucker & Michael R. Darby & Maximo Torero, 1997. "Labor Mobility from Academe to Commerce," NBER Working Papers 6050, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
    Other versions:
  16. Ramello, Giovanni B., 2007. "Access to vs. exclusion from knowledge: Intellectual property, efficiency and social justice," P.O.L.I.S. department's Working Papers 90, Department of Public Policy and Public Choice - POLIS. [Downloadable!]
  17. Anastasios Karamanos, 2002. "Market Networks and the Value in Knowledge Exchanges: Evidence from Biotechnology Strategic Alliances," ESRC Centre for Business Research - Working Papers wp240, ESRC Centre for Business Research. [Downloadable!]
  18. Nicolai J. Foss, 2006. "The Emerging Knowledge Governance Approach: Challenges and Characteristics," DRUID Working Papers 06-10, DRUID, Copenhagen Business School, Department of Industrial Economics and Strategy/Aalborg University, Department of Business Studies. [Downloadable!]
  19. Cassiman, Bruno & Veugelers, Reinhilde & Zuniga, Pluvia, 2007. "Science linkages and innovation performance: An analysis on CIS-3 firms in Belgium," IESE Research Papers D/671, IESE Business School. [Downloadable!]
  20. Stuart J Graham, 2004. "Secrecy in the Shadow of Patenting: Firms Use of Continuation Patents, 1975-1994," Levine's Working Paper Archive 228400000000000035, UCLA Department of Economics. [Downloadable!]
  21. Moingeon, Bertrand & Quélin, Bertrand & Dalsace, Frédéric & Lumineau, Fabrice, 2006. "Inter-organizational communities of practice: specificities and stakes," Les Cahiers de Recherche 857, Groupe HEC. [Downloadable!]
  22. Michael R. Darby & Lynne G. Zucker & Andrew Wang, 2003. "Universities, Joint Ventures, and Success in the Advanced Technology Program," NBER Working Papers 9463, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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