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Collaboration strategies and SME innovation performance

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  • Audretsch, David B.
  • Belitski, Maksim
  • Caiazza, Rosa
  • Phan, Phillip

Abstract

There is a growing recognition that collaboration is a key source of new knowledge and innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Bridging the gap in the open innovation in SMEs literature on returns to open innovation our study demonstrates that a type of partner and its geographical proximity predict innovation performance in SMEs. Controlling for selection bias and endogeneity and using the panel data on 9,213 SMEs in the United Kingdom (UK) during 2002–2014, we found that collaboration with suppliers and customers domestically and internationally, collaboration with universities domestically and competitors internationally facilitate innovation in SMEs. The results offer implications for policymakers, scholars, entrepreneurs and SME managers.

Suggested Citation

  • Audretsch, David B. & Belitski, Maksim & Caiazza, Rosa & Phan, Phillip, 2023. "Collaboration strategies and SME innovation performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:164:y:2023:i:c:s0148296323003764
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2023.114018
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    Cited by:

    1. Menten, Steffi & Smits, Armand & Kok, Robert A.W. & Lauche, Kristina & van Gils, Maarten, 2025. "External resourcing for digital innovation in manufacturing SMEs," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    2. M. A. Gershman & L. M. Gokhberg & M. V. Evseeva & E. G. Kameneva, 2025. "Research and Production Cooperation and its State Support: the View of Russian Business," University Management: Practice and Analysis, Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education «Ural Federal University named after the first President of Russia B.N.Yeltsin»; Non-Commercial Partnership “University Management: Practice and, vol. 29(3).
    3. Ogochukwu Christiana Anyanwu & Sunday Emeka Oloto & Victor Chukwunweike Nwokocha, 2023. "Impact of strategic alliance on the innovation of women-owned enterprises in Nigeria," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    4. De Mattos, Claudio & Salciuviene, Laura & Sanderson, Stuart, 2025. "Can conflict be a desirable step in trust-building within international strategic alliances? A systematic literature review and typology," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 31(2).
    5. Eduardo Manuel Almeida Leite & David Audretsch & Ana Leite, 2025. "Integrating philosophy and psychology to enhance creativity and innovation in entrepreneurship: the W.O.M.B. model," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 50(4), pages 1396-1415, August.
    6. Nadezhda Shmeleva & Tatyana Tolstykh & Viktoria Krasnobaeva & Diana Boboshko & Denis Lazarenko, 2024. "Network Integration as a Tool for Sustainable Business Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-25, October.
    7. Zongyang Li, 2026. "How Do Leading Enterprises Drive Strategic Industrial Transformation? Evidence from Manufacturing Agglomeration in China," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 17(2), pages 5728-5757, April.
    8. Choi, Jihun & Kim, Young-Kyu & Roh, Taewoo, 2024. "Unpacking the link between entrepreneurial proactiveness and exploitative innovation strategy: The role of brokerage position and open innovation," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    9. Mengdi Sun & Xiaoyu Zhao, 2023. "Influence of Organizational Ambidextrous Culture in Manufacturing Enterprises on Service Innovation Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-26, October.
    10. Carolina Pasciaroni, 2025. "R&D Cooperation: Direct and Indirect Effect and Complementary. An Oaxaca-Blinder Decomposition for a Developing Country," Schmalenbach Journal of Business Research, Springer, vol. 77(4), pages 847-884, December.
    11. Shiu-Li Huang & Huei-Ru Siao, 2023. "Factors Affecting the Implementation of Online Food Delivery and Its Impact on Restaurant Performance during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-21, August.
    12. Vivien Lefebvre, 2025. "Navigating challenges: lean inventory management and SMEs performance during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 64(4), pages 1901-1927, April.
    13. Maksim Belitski & Jurek Sikorski, 2024. "Three steps for universities to become entrepreneurial: a case study of entrepreneurial process and dynamic capabilities," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 49(6), pages 2035-2055, December.
    14. Chang Lu & Yong Qi & Bo Yu, 2024. "Effects of Domestic and International External Collaboration on New Product Development Performance in SMEs: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-19, January.
    15. J. Kanyepe & M. Alfaneta, 2025. "Factors influencing e-procurement adoption among smes: the moderating role of supplier relationship dynamics," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 5(11), pages 1-25, November.
    16. Audretsch, David B. & Belitski, Maksim, 2024. "Knowledge collaboration, firm productivity and innovation: A critical assessment," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    17. Guilherme Francisco do Prado & Jovani Taveira de Souza & Cassiano Moro Piekarski, 2025. "Sustainable and Innovative: How Can Open Innovation Enhance Sustainability Practices?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-25, January.
    18. Huiping Dong & Yating Guo & Xing Shi & Shaofu Du, 2025. "Relationship between R&D subsidies and R&D collaboration in promoting firm innovation," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 50(3), pages 995-1015, June.
    19. Intenza, Marika & Capobianco, Nunzia & Sarto, Fabrizia & Saggese, Sara, 2025. "Opening the black box: Exploring innovation pathways from entrepreneurial ecosystems to financial performance in healthcare organisations," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 24(C).

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