IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jecomi/v9y2021i2p56-d533400.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Mediating Role of Firm R&D in Creating Product and Process Innovation: Empirical Evidence from Norway

Author

Listed:
  • Yee Yee Sein

    (Science and Research Centre, Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Pardubice, 532 10 Pardubice, Czech Republic)

  • Viktor Prokop

    (Science and Research Centre, Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Pardubice, 532 10 Pardubice, Czech Republic)

Abstract

Government funding actively engages in private R&D investment to enhance firm innovation. At the same time, firms are forced to find additional sources of competitive advantage, e.g., through cooperation based on the triple- or quadruple-helix principles. This paper analyses whether government funding and cooperation based on the triple-helix and quadruple-helix principles spur firms’ product and process innovation rather directly or indirectly, taking into account the role of firms R&D. For this purpose, we collect data from the Community Innovation Survey and analyse 5045 Norwegian firms by using partial least squares structural equation modelling. Our results confirm hypotheses that public funding and both triple-helix and quadruple-helix cooperation significantly influence firms’ research and development activities. Surprisingly, on the one hand, we showed that neither public funding nor triple- and quadruple-helix cooperation affect firms’ product innovation directly. Moreover, the results show a negative influence of government funding and triple- and quadruple-helix cooperation on Norwegian firms’ product innovation. On the other hand, process innovation is influenced positively and directly by firms’ cooperation based on the triple- and quadruple-helix principles. The results of our analyses clearly show the key role of firm’s R&D, which has proven to be a mediator of the effects of public funding and triple- and quadruple-helix cooperation on the product and process innovation activities of Norwegian firms.

Suggested Citation

  • Yee Yee Sein & Viktor Prokop, 2021. "Mediating Role of Firm R&D in Creating Product and Process Innovation: Empirical Evidence from Norway," Economies, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-16, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jecomi:v:9:y:2021:i:2:p:56-:d:533400
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7099/9/2/56/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7099/9/2/56/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. René Belderbos & Martin Carree & Boris Lokshin & Juan Fernández Sastre, 2015. "Inter-temporal patterns of R&D collaboration and innovative performance," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 40(1), pages 123-137, February.
    2. Walsh, P.P. & Murphy, E. & Horan, D., 2020. "The role of science, technology and innovation in the UN 2030 agenda," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    3. Jordi McKenzie & W. Walls, 2013. "Australian films at the Australian box office: performance, distribution, and subsidies," Journal of Cultural Economics, Springer;The Association for Cultural Economics International, vol. 37(2), pages 247-269, May.
    4. Martina Halaskova & Renata Halaskova & Viktor Prokop, 2018. "Evaluation of Efficiency in Selected Areas of Public Services in European Union Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-17, December.
    5. Feldman, Maryann P. & Kelley, Maryellen R., 2006. "The ex ante assessment of knowledge spillovers: Government R&D policy, economic incentives and private firm behavior," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(10), pages 1509-1521, December.
    6. Kafouros, Marios & Love, James H & Ganotakis, Panagiotis & Konara, Palitha, 2020. "Experience in R&D collaborations, innovative performance and the moderating effect of different dimensions of absorptive capacity," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    7. Zhang, Xiang & Bai, Xue, 2017. "Incentive policies from 2006 to 2016 and new energy vehicle adoption in 2010–2020 in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 24-43.
    8. Michaela Kotkova Striteska & Viktor Prokop, 2020. "Dynamic Innovation Strategy Model in Practice of Innovation Leaders and Followers in CEE Countries—A Prerequisite for Building Innovative Ecosystems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-20, May.
    9. Garcia, Abraham & Mohnen, Pierre, 2010. "Impact of government support on R&D and innovation," MERIT Working Papers 2010-034, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    10. Fitjar, Rune Dahl & Rodríguez-Pose, Andrés, 2013. "Firm collaboration and modes of innovation in Norway," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(1), pages 128-138.
    11. Zhiying Zhang & Hua Cheng & Yabin Yu, 2020. "Relationships among Government Funding, R&D Model and Innovation Performance: A Study on the Chinese Textile Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-20, January.
    12. Loet Leydesdorff, 2012. "The Triple Helix, Quadruple Helix, …, and an N-Tuple of Helices: Explanatory Models for Analyzing the Knowledge-Based Economy?," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 3(1), pages 25-35, March.
    13. Aerts, Kris & Schmidt, Tobias, 2008. "Two for the price of one?: Additionality effects of R&D subsidies: A comparison between Flanders and Germany," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(5), pages 806-822, June.
    14. Clausen, Tommy H., 2009. "Do subsidies have positive impacts on R&D and innovation activities at the firm level?," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 20(4), pages 239-253, December.
    15. Hud, Martin & Hussinger, Katrin, 2015. "The impact of R&D subsidies during the crisis," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(10), pages 1844-1855.
    16. Romer, Paul M, 1990. "Endogenous Technological Change," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 98(5), pages 71-102, October.
    17. Rune Dahl Fitjar & Andrés Rodríguez-Pose, 2014. "When local interaction does not suffice: sources of firm innovation in urban Norway," Chapters, in: André Torre & Frédéric Wallet (ed.), Regional Development and Proximity Relations, chapter 5, pages 195-222, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    18. Söderblom, Anna & Samuelsson, Mikael & Wiklund, Johan & Sandberg, Rickard, 2015. "Inside the black box of outcome additionality: Effects of early-stage government subsidies on resource accumulation and new venture performance," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(8), pages 1501-1512.
    19. Gouvea, Raul & Kassicieh, Sul & Montoya, M.J.R., 2013. "Using the quadruple helix to design strategies for the green economy," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 80(2), pages 221-230.
    20. Bronzini, Raffaello & Piselli, Paolo, 2016. "The impact of R&D subsidies on firm innovation," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(2), pages 442-457.
    21. Dimos, Christos & Pugh, Geoff, 2016. "The effectiveness of R&D subsidies: A meta-regression analysis of the evaluation literature," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(4), pages 797-815.
    22. Elias G. Carayannis & David F. J. Campbell, 2012. "Mode 3 Knowledge Production in Quadruple Helix Innovation Systems," SpringerBriefs in Business, in: Mode 3 Knowledge Production in Quadruple Helix Innovation Systems, pages 1-63, Springer.
    23. Elias G. Carayannis & David F.J. Campbell, 2012. "Mode 3 Knowledge Production in Quadruple Helix Innovation Systems," SpringerBriefs in Business, Springer, number 978-1-4614-2062-0, July.
    24. Miotti, Luis & Sachwald, Frederique, 2003. "Co-operative R&D: why and with whom?: An integrated framework of analysis," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 32(8), pages 1481-1499, September.
    25. Fulvio Castellacci, 2008. "Innovation in Norway in a European Perspective," Nordic Journal of Political Economy, Nordic Journal of Political Economy, vol. 34, pages 1-1.
    26. Beom Cheol Cin & Young Jun Kim & Nicholas S. Vonortas, 2017. "The impact of public R&D subsidy on small firm productivity: evidence from Korean SMEs," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 48(2), pages 345-360, February.
    27. Jonathan Owens, 2004. "An Evaluation Of Organisational Groundwork And Learning Objectives For New Product Development," Journal of Enterprising Culture (JEC), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 12(04), pages 303-325.
    28. Øivind Strand & Inga Ivanova & Loet Leydesdorff, 2017. "Decomposing the Triple-Helix synergy into the regional innovation systems of Norway: firm data and patent networks," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 51(3), pages 963-988, May.
    29. Keith Pavitt, 2003. "The Process of Innovation," SPRU Working Paper Series 89, SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex Business School.
    30. Anzola-Román, Paula & Bayona-Sáez, Cristina & García-Marco, Teresa, 2018. "Organizational innovation, internal R&D and externally sourced innovation practices: Effects on technological innovation outcomes," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 233-247.
    31. Aldieri, Luigi & Sena, Vania & Vinci, Concetto Paolo, 2018. "Domestic R&D spillovers and absorptive capacity: Some evidence for US, Europe and Japan," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 38-49.
    32. Terje Grønning & Svein Erik Moen & Dorothy Sutherland Olsen, 2008. "Low Innovation Intensity, High Growth and Specialized Trajectories: Norway," Chapters, in: Charles Edquist & Leif Hommen (ed.), Small Country Innovation Systems, chapter 8, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    33. Koski, Heli, 2015. "Commercial success of innovation: the roles of R&D cooperation and firm age," ETLA Working Papers 30, The Research Institute of the Finnish Economy.
    34. Cailou Jiang & Ying Zhang & Maoliang Bu & Weishu Liu, 2018. "The Effectiveness of Government Subsidies on Manufacturing Innovation: Evidence from the New Energy Vehicle Industry in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-11, May.
    35. Thomas J. Hannigan & Marcelo Cano-Kollmann & Ram Mudambi, 2015. "Thriving innovation amidst manufacturing decline: the Detroit auto cluster and the resilience of local knowledge production," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 24(3), pages 613-634.
    36. Czarnitzki, Dirk & Hussinger, Katrin, 2004. "The Link Between R&D Subsidies, R&D Spending and Technological Performance," ZEW Discussion Papers 04-56, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    37. Un, C. Annique & Rodríguez, Alicia, 2018. "Local and Global Knowledge Complementarity: R&D Collaborations and Innovation of Foreign and Domestic Firms," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 24(2), pages 137-152.
    38. Wolfgang Becker & Juergen Peters, 2000. "Technological Opportunities, Absorptive Capacities, and Innovation," Discussion Paper Series 195, Universitaet Augsburg, Institute for Economics.
    39. JinHyo Joseph Yun & Zheng Liu, 2019. "Micro- and Macro-Dynamics of Open Innovation with a Quadruple-Helix Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-17, June.
    40. Scott J. Wallsten, 2000. "The Effects of Government-Industry R&D Programs on Private R&D: The Case of the Small Business Innovation Research Program," RAND Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 31(1), pages 82-100, Spring.
    41. Laijun Luo & Yang Yang & Yuze Luo & Chang Liu, 2016. "Export, subsidy and innovation: China’s state-owned enterprises versus privately-owned enterprises," Economic and Political Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 4(2), pages 137-155, April.
    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. Theodosios Anastasios Perifanis, 2022. "The Macroeconomic Results of Diligent Resource Revenues Management: The Norwegian Case," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-14, February.
    2. Shao, Jiyou & Hua, Lei, 2023. "Research on government subsidy policy for firms’ R&D investment considering spillover effects: A Stackelberg game approach," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 58(PB).
    3. Reihaneh Hajishirzi & Carlos J. Costa & Manuela Aparicio, 2022. "Boosting Sustainability through Digital Transformation’s Domains and Resilience," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-16, February.
    4. Jun Wen & Lingxiao Li & Xinxin Zhao & Chenyang Jiao & Wenjie Li, 2022. "How Government Size Expansion Can Affect Green Innovation—An Empirical Analysis of Data on Cross-Country Green Patent Filings," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-22, June.

    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. Thomas H. W. Ziesemer, 2021. "The Effects of R&D Subsidies and Publicly Performed R&D on Business R&D: A Survey," Hacienda Pública Española / Review of Public Economics, IEF, vol. 236(1), pages 171-205, March.
    2. Enrico Vanino & Stephen Roper & Bettina Becker, 2020. "Knowledge to Money: Assessing the Business Performance Effects of Publicly Funded R&D Grants," ifo DICE Report, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 17(04), pages 20-24, January.
    3. Yu, Feifei & Wang, Liting & Li, Xiaotong, 2020. "The effects of government subsidies on new energy vehicle enterprises: The moderating role of intelligent transformation," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    4. Szücs, Florian, 2020. "Do research subsidies crowd out private R&D of large firms? Evidence from European Framework Programmes," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(3).
    5. Hernández-Trasobares, Alejandro & Murillo-Luna, Josefina L., 2020. "The effect of triple helix cooperation on business innovation: The case of Spain," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    6. Wang, Zhongcheng & Li, Xinyue & Xue, Xinhong & Liu, Yahuan, 2022. "More government subsidies, more green innovation? The evidence from Chinese new energy vehicle enterprises," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 197(C), pages 11-21.
    7. Ugur, Mehmet & Trushin, Eshref, 2018. "Asymmetric information and heterogeneous effects of R&D subsidies: evidence on R&D investment and employment of R&D personel," Greenwich Papers in Political Economy 21943, University of Greenwich, Greenwich Political Economy Research Centre.
    8. Zhenji Jin & Yue Shang & Jian Xu, 2018. "The Impact of Government Subsidies on Private R&D and Firm Performance: Does Ownership Matter in China’s Manufacturing Industry?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-20, June.
    9. Bettina Becker, 2013. "The Determinants of R&D Investment: A Survey of the Empirical Research," Discussion Paper Series 2013_09, Department of Economics, Loughborough University, revised Sep 2013.
    10. Bellucci, Andrea & Pennacchio, Luca & Zazzaro, Alberto, 2023. "Debt financing of SMEs: The certification role of R&D Subsidies," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    11. Wang, Yanbo & Li, Jizhen & Furman, Jeffrey L., 2017. "Firm performance and state innovation funding: Evidence from China’s innofund program," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(6), pages 1142-1161.
    12. George A Shinkle & Jo-Ann Suchard, 2019. "Innovation in newly public firms: The influence of government grants, venture capital, and private equity," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 44(2), pages 248-281, May.
    13. Shuang Wang & Shukuan Zhao & Dong Shao & Hongyu Liu, 2020. "Impact of Government Subsidies on Manufacturing Innovation in China: The Moderating Role of Political Connections and Investor Attention," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-21, September.
    14. Kiman Kim & Sang Ok Choi & Sooyeon Lee, 2021. "The Effect of a Financial Support on Firm Innovation Collaboration and Output: Does Policy Work on the Diverse Nature of Firm Innovation?," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 12(2), pages 645-675, June.
    15. Bettina Becker, 2020. "The Impact of Innovation Policy on Firm Innovation and Performance: A Review of Recent Research Developments," ifo DICE Report, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 17(04), pages 10-15, January.
    16. Mehmet Ugur & Eshref Trushin, 2023. "Information asymmetry, risk aversion and R&D subsidies: effect-size heterogeneity and policy conundrums," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(8), pages 1190-1215, November.
    17. Czarnitzki, Dirk & Lopes-Bento, Cindy, 2013. "Value for money? New microeconometric evidence on public R&D grants in Flanders," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(1), pages 76-89.
    18. Ugur, Mehmet & Trushin, Eshref & Solomon, Edna, 2015. "UK and EU subsidies and private R&D investment: Is there input additionality?," MPRA Paper 68009, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 16 Nov 2015.
    19. Beck, Mathias & Lopes-Bento, Cindy & Schenker-Wicki, Andrea, 2016. "Radical or incremental: Where does R&D policy hit?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(4), pages 869-883.
    20. Goerke, Björn & Albers, Sönke, 2016. "Long-term effects of subsidies on firm growth: introducing the concept of outcome additionality," EconStor Preprints 142164, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.

    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:gam:jecomi:v:9:y:2021:i:2:p:56-:d:533400. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.