IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/jknowl/v15y2024i4d10.1007_s13132-024-01756-9.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Does Initial Vocational Training Foster Innovativeness at the Company Level? Evidence from German Establishment Data

Author

Listed:
  • Eike Matthies

    (HAWK University of Applied Sciences and Arts
    Chair for Economic Policy and SME Research, Georg-August-University of Goettingen)

  • Katarzyna Haverkamp

    (Institute for Small Business Economics at the Georg-August-University Goettingen)

  • Jörg Thomä

    (Institute for Small Business Economics at the Georg-August-University Goettingen)

  • Kilian Bizer

    (Chair for Economic Policy and SME Research, Georg-August-University of Goettingen
    Institute for Small Business Economics at the Georg-August-University Goettingen)

Abstract

The potential role of vocational education and training (VET) for innovation is the subject of a growing number of studies. Quantitative evidence for this relationship, however, remains scarce. Therefore, this paper uses representative German company data to examine the relationship between a firm’s initial VET activity and its innovation output. The results based on linear probability models and entropy balancing indicate that the direct link between initial VET and firm-level innovation is more ambiguous than often postulated. For the total population of German companies, a positive correlation with initial VET is only found for incremental product and process innovations. Furthermore, a significant link between initial VET and innovation is only found in the group of microenterprises with less than 10 employees. From this, we conclude that participation in the VET system primarily promotes the innovative capacity of very small training companies through the diffusion of new technologies and knowledge. The paper concludes with implications for policy and research.

Suggested Citation

  • Eike Matthies & Katarzyna Haverkamp & Jörg Thomä & Kilian Bizer, 2024. "Does Initial Vocational Training Foster Innovativeness at the Company Level? Evidence from German Establishment Data," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(4), pages 17048-17076, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jknowl:v:15:y:2024:i:4:d:10.1007_s13132-024-01756-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s13132-024-01756-9
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s13132-024-01756-9
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s13132-024-01756-9?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jensen, Morten Berg & Johnson, Bjorn & Lorenz, Edward & Lundvall, Bengt Ake, 2007. "Forms of knowledge and modes of innovation," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(5), pages 680-693, June.
    2. Hervás-Oliver, José-Luis & Parrilli, Mario Davide & Rodríguez-Pose, Andrés & Sempere-Ripoll, Francisca, 2021. "The drivers of SME innovation in the regions of the EU," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(9).
    3. Milé Terziovski, 2010. "Innovation practice and its performance implications in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the manufacturing sector: a resource‐based view," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(8), pages 892-902, August.
    4. Anders Akerman & Ingvil Gaarder & Magne Mogstad, 2015. "The Skill Complementarity of Broadband Internet," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 130(4), pages 1781-1824.
    5. Tobias Schultheiss & Uschi Backes-Gellner, 2024. "Does updating education curricula accelerate technology adoption in the workplace? Evidence from dual vocational education and training curricula in Switzerland," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 49(1), pages 191-235, February.
    6. Hainmueller, Jens, 2012. "Entropy Balancing for Causal Effects: A Multivariate Reweighting Method to Produce Balanced Samples in Observational Studies," Political Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 20(1), pages 25-46, January.
    7. Silje Haus-Reve & Rune Dahl Fitjar & Andrés Rodríguez-Pose, 2023. "DUI it yourself: Innovation and activities to promote learning by doing, using, and interacting within the firm," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(8), pages 1008-1028, September.
    8. Eneka Albizu & Mikel Olazaran & Cristina Lavía & Beatriz Otero, 2017. "Making visible the role of vocational education and training in firm innovation: evidence from Spanish SMEs," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(11), pages 2057-2075, November.
    9. Robert Dalitz & Phillip Toner, 2016. "Systems failure, market failure, or something else? The case of skills development in Australian innovation policy," Innovation and Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 6(1), pages 51-66, April.
    10. Hainmueller, Jens & Xu, Yiqing, 2013. "ebalance: A Stata Package for Entropy Balancing," Journal of Statistical Software, Foundation for Open Access Statistics, vol. 54(i07).
    11. Stefan Bauernschuster & Oliver Falck & Stephan Heblich, 2009. "Training and Innovation," Journal of Human Capital, University of Chicago Press, vol. 3(4), pages 323-353.
    12. Dirk Krueger & Krishna B. Kumar, 2004. "Skill-Specific rather than General Education: A Reason for US--Europe Growth Differences?," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 9(2), pages 167-207, June.
    13. Bengt-ake Lundvall & Bjorn Johnson, 1994. "The Learning Economy," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 1(2), pages 23-42.
    14. Henrik Brynthe Lund & Asbjørn Karlsen, 2020. "The importance of vocational education institutions in manufacturing regions: adding content to a broad definition of regional innovation systems," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(6), pages 660-679, June.
    15. Till Proeger, 2020. "Knowledge Spillovers and Absorptive Capacity—Institutional Evidence from the “German Mittelstand”," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 11(1), pages 211-238, March.
    16. Petrik Runst & Jörg Thomä, 2022. "Does personality matter? Small business owners and modes of innovation," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 58(4), pages 2235-2260, April.
    17. Fitjar, Rune Dahl & Rodríguez-Pose, Andrés, 2013. "Firm collaboration and modes of innovation in Norway," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(1), pages 128-138.
    18. Abadie, Alberto & Imbens, Guido W., 2011. "Bias-Corrected Matching Estimators for Average Treatment Effects," Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, American Statistical Association, vol. 29(1), pages 1-11.
    19. K. J. Arrow, 1971. "The Economic Implications of Learning by Doing," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: F. H. Hahn (ed.), Readings in the Theory of Growth, chapter 11, pages 131-149, Palgrave Macmillan.
    20. By Barbara Mueller & Jürg Schweri, 2015. "How specific is apprenticeship training? Evidence from inter-firm and occupational mobility after graduation," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 67(4), pages 1057-1077.
    21. John R. Baldwin & Guy Gellatly, 2003. "Innovation Strategies and Performance in Small Firms," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 3062.
    22. Figueiredo, Paulo N. & Larsen, Henrik & Hansen, Ulrich E., 2020. "The role of interactive learning in innovation capability building in multinational subsidiaries: A micro-level study of biotechnology in Brazil," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(6).
    23. Nola Hewitt-Dundas, 2006. "Resource and Capability Constraints to Innovation in Small and Large Plants," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 26(3), pages 257-277, April.
    24. Fagerberg, Jan & Fosaas, Morten & Sapprasert, Koson, 2012. "Innovation: Exploring the knowledge base," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(7), pages 1132-1153.
    25. Jose-Luis Hervas-Oliver & Francisca Sempere-Ripoll & Carles Boronat-Moll, 2014. "Process innovation strategy in SMEs, organizational innovation and performance: a misleading debate?," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 43(4), pages 873-886, December.
    26. Heidenreich, Martin, 2009. "Innovation patterns and location of European low- and medium-technology industries," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(3), pages 483-494, April.
    27. Sérgio Nunes & Raul Lopes, 2015. "Firm Performance, Innovation Modes and Territorial Embeddedness," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(9), pages 1796-1826, September.
    28. Philippe Aghion & Peter Howitt, 2006. "Joseph Schumpeter Lecture Appropriate Growth Policy: A Unifying Framework," Journal of the European Economic Association, MIT Press, vol. 4(2-3), pages 269-314, 04-05.
    29. Michaela Trippl, 2011. "Regional Innovation Systems and Knowledge-Sourcing Activities in Traditional Industries—Evidence from the Vienna Food Sector," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 43(7), pages 1599-1616, July.
    30. repec:bla:perwir:v:9:y:2008:i:3:p:28-45 is not listed on IDEAS
    31. Cohen, Wesley M & Levinthal, Daniel A, 1989. "Innovation and Learning: The Two Faces of R&D," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 99(397), pages 569-596, September.
    32. Philippe Aghion, 2008. "Higher Education and Innovation," Perspektiven der Wirtschaftspolitik, Verein für Socialpolitik, vol. 9(s1), pages 28-45, May.
    33. Harm Alhusen & Tatjana Bennat, 2021. "Combinatorial innovation modes in SMEs: mechanisms integrating STI processes into DUI mode learning and the role of regional innovation policy," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(4), pages 779-805, April.
    34. Arne Isaksen & James Karlsen, 2011. "Organisational Learning, Supportive Innovation Systems and Implications for Policy Formulation," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 2(4), pages 453-462, December.
    35. McGuirk, Helen & Lenihan, Helena & Hart, Mark, 2015. "Measuring the impact of innovative human capital on small firms’ propensity to innovate," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(4), pages 965-976.
    36. Phillip Toner, 2010. "Innovation and Vocational Education," The Economic and Labour Relations Review, , vol. 21(2), pages 75-98, December.
    37. Santamara, Llus & Nieto, Mara Jess & Barge-Gil, Andrs, 2009. "Beyond formal R&D: Taking advantage of other sources of innovation in low- and medium-technology industries," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(3), pages 507-517, April.
    38. Zhong Zhao, 2004. "Using Matching to Estimate Treatment Effects: Data Requirements, Matching Metrics, and Monte Carlo Evidence," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 86(1), pages 91-107, February.
    39. Graciela Corral de Zubielqui & Noel Lindsay & Wendy Lindsay & Janice Jones, 2019. "Knowledge quality, innovation and firm performance: a study of knowledge transfer in SMEs," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 53(1), pages 145-164, June.
    40. Trott, Paul & Simms, Chris, 2017. "An examination of product innovation in low- and medium-technology industries: Cases from the UK packaged food sector," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(3), pages 605-623.
    41. Weidner, Nadia & Som, Oliver & Horvat, Djerdj, 2023. "An integrated conceptual framework for analysing heterogeneous configurations of absorptive capacity in manufacturing firms with the DUI innovation mode," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Simms, Christopher & Frishammar, Johan, 2024. "Technology transfer challenges in asymmetric alliances between high-technology and low-technology firms," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(3).
    2. Alhusen, Harm, 2020. "Experience-based know-how, learning and innovation in German SMEs: An explorative analysis of the role of know-how in different modes of innovation," ifh Working Papers 27/2020, Volkswirtschaftliches Institut für Mittelstand und Handwerk an der Universität Göttingen (ifh).
    3. Petrik Runst & Jörg Thomä, 2022. "Does personality matter? Small business owners and modes of innovation," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 58(4), pages 2235-2260, April.
    4. Reher, Leonie & Runst, Petrik & Thomä, Jörg, 2024. "Personality and regional innovativeness: An empirical analysis of German patent data," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(6).
    5. Matthies, Eike & Thomä, Jörg & Bizer, Kilian, 2022. "A hidden source of innovation? Revisiting the impact of initial vocational training on technological innovation," ifh Working Papers 33/2022, Volkswirtschaftliches Institut für Mittelstand und Handwerk an der Universität Göttingen (ifh), revised 2022.
    6. Tatjana Bennat, 2022. "High Innovativeness of SMEs and the Configuration of Learning-by-Doing, Learning-by-Using, Learning-by-Interacting, and Learning-by-Science: a Regional Comparison Applying Fuzzy Qualitative Comparativ," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 13(2), pages 1666-1691, June.
    7. Thomä, Jörg & Zimmermann, Volker, 2019. "Non-R&D, interactive learning and economic performance: Revisiting innovation in small and medium enterprises," ifh Working Papers 17/2019, Volkswirtschaftliches Institut für Mittelstand und Handwerk an der Universität Göttingen (ifh).
    8. Alhusen, Harm & Bennat, Tatjana & Bizer, Kilian & Cantner, Uwe & Horstmann, Elaine & Kalthaus, Martin & Proeger, Till & Sternberg, Rolf & Töpfer, Stefan, 2021. "A New Measurement Conception for the ‘Doing-Using-Interacting’ Mode of Innovation," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(4).
    9. Piercey, Philip & Saunders, Chad & Doloreux, David, 2025. "The sensitivity of innovation modes to distance: Can we go the distance?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 210(C).
    10. Nanditha Mathew & George Paily, 2022. "STI-DUI innovation modes and firm performance in the Indian capital goods industry: Do small firms differ from large ones?," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 47(2), pages 435-458, April.
    11. Parrilli, Mario Davide & Balavac, Merima & Radicic, Dragana, 2020. "Business innovation modes and their impact on innovation outputs: Regional variations and the nature of innovation across EU regions," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(8).
    12. Hervás-Oliver, José-Luis & Parrilli, Mario Davide & Rodríguez-Pose, Andrés & Sempere-Ripoll, Francisca, 2021. "The drivers of SME innovation in the regions of the EU," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(9).
    13. Doloreux, David & Shearmur, Richard, 2023. "Does location matter? STI and DUI innovation modes in different geographic settings," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    14. Bischoff, Thore Sören & Hipp, Ann & Runst, Petrik, 2023. "Firm innovation and generalized trust as a regional resource," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(8).
    15. Runst, Petrik & Thomä, Jörg, 2024. "The R&D Risk-Return Trade-Off: Exploring the Diversity of Young Innovative Firms," ifh Working Papers 43/2024, Volkswirtschaftliches Institut für Mittelstand und Handwerk an der Universität Göttingen (ifh).
    16. Silje Haus-Reve & Rune Dahl Fitjar & Andrés Rodríguez-Pose, 2023. "DUI it yourself: Innovation and activities to promote learning by doing, using, and interacting within the firm," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(8), pages 1008-1028, September.
    17. Trott, Paul & Simms, Chris, 2017. "An examination of product innovation in low- and medium-technology industries: Cases from the UK packaged food sector," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(3), pages 605-623.
    18. José Albors-Garrigos & José L. Hervas-Oliver, 2011. "Making sense of innovation by R&D and non-R&D innovators in low technology contexts: a forgotten lesson for policymakers," Working Papers. Serie EC 2011-06, Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Económicas, S.A. (Ivie).
    19. Matthies, Eike & Haverkamp, Katarzyna & Thomä, Jörg & Bizer, Kilian, 2022. "Does initial vocational training foster innovativeness at the company level? Evidence from German establishment data," ifh Working Papers 30/2022, Volkswirtschaftliches Institut für Mittelstand und Handwerk an der Universität Göttingen (ifh), revised 2022.
    20. Alhusen, Harm & Bennat, Tatjana & Bizer, Kilian & Cantner, Uwe & Horstmann, Elaine & Kalthaus, Martin & Proeger, Till & Sternberg, Rolf G. & Töpfer, Stefan, 2019. "Measuring the "doing-using-interacting mode" of innovation in SMEs - A qualitative approach," ifh Working Papers 23/2019, Volkswirtschaftliches Institut für Mittelstand und Handwerk an der Universität Göttingen (ifh).

    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:spr:jknowl:v:15:y:2024:i:4:d:10.1007_s13132-024-01756-9. 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: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.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.