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Exploration or exploitation of knowledge from universities: does it make a difference?

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  • S. Arvanitis
  • M. Woerter

Abstract

In the first step, based on the existing theoretical and empirical literature, we develop a series of hypotheses with respect to the relative importance of possible determinants of exploration and exploitation of knowledge in collaboration with universities and test them on Swiss firm data. In the second step, we investigate the impact on innovation performance of knowledge exploration versus knowledge exploitation. We obtain a clear pattern of the differences between firms that are engaged both in exploitative and explorative activities ('exploration'-oriented firms) and purely 'exploitation'-oriented firms. We find that exploration-oriented firms have a greater knowledge absorptive capacity, are technologically more diverse and are strongly exposed to intensive non-price competition compared with exploitation-oriented firms. We further find a positive effect on innovation performance for exploitation-oriented firms but not for those that were exploration oriented.

Suggested Citation

  • S. Arvanitis & M. Woerter, 2015. "Exploration or exploitation of knowledge from universities: does it make a difference?," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(6), pages 596-623, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:ecinnt:v:24:y:2015:i:6:p:596-623
    DOI: 10.1080/10438599.2014.973294
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    Cited by:

    1. Beck, Mathias & Junge, Martin & Kaiser, Ulrich, 2017. "Public Funding and Corporate Innovation," IZA Discussion Papers 11196, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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