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Exploring the nexus between technological collaboration and green innovation: the role of corporate R&D structure and managerial orientation

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  • Wu, Songyang
  • Ning, Lutao
  • Mu, Shijun

Abstract

Green innovation literature emphasises that technological collaboration can help firms to absorb the extensive knowledge required to develop green innovations. However, we know little about the potential drawbacks of technological collaboration on green innovation and the specific role of firms’ R&D structure and managerial orientation in this process. Drawing upon the knowledge- and attention-based views, this study investigates the effect of technological collaboration on green innovation performance with the moderating roles of R&D decentralisation and the managerial short-term orientation. Using panel data of 2,333 Chinese listed manufacturing firms from 2010 to 2020, our results reveal that the technological collaboration has an inverted U-shaped relationship with the firms’ green technological innovation. High-level technological collaboration could hinder firms’ green innovation performance by diverting attention away from valuable knowledge recombination. Moreover, R&D decentralisation and short-term orientation can flatten the curvilinear relationship and mitigate the drawbacks of high-level technological collaboration.

Suggested Citation

  • Wu, Songyang & Ning, Lutao & Mu, Shijun, 2025. "Exploring the nexus between technological collaboration and green innovation: the role of corporate R&D structure and managerial orientation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:199:y:2025:i:c:s0148296325003844
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2025.115561
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