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Big tech, knowledge predation and the implications for development

Author

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  • Cecilia Rikap
  • Bengt-Åke Lundvall

Abstract

This paper focuses on tech giants as active drivers of a phase of globalization characterized by growth in digital services trade combined with a general shift to intangible assets. By analysing how Google, Amazon and Microsoft organize their innovation activities, we show that they continuously monopolize knowledge while outsourcing innovation steps to other firms and research institutions. The paper compares science and technology collaborations with patent co-ownership suggesting knowledge predation from those other organizations. We also highlight that selected tech giants combine the collection of innovation rents with rents from exclusive access to data. We, therefore, refer to tech giants as data-driven intellectual monopolies, each organizing and controlling a global corporate innovation system (CIS). Intellectual monopolies predate knowledge (including data when they are data-driven) from their CIS that they turn into intangible assets. The paper ends with reflections on the implications for innovation and development.

Suggested Citation

  • Cecilia Rikap & Bengt-Åke Lundvall, 2022. "Big tech, knowledge predation and the implications for development," Innovation and Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 12(3), pages 389-416, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:riadxx:v:12:y:2022:i:3:p:389-416
    DOI: 10.1080/2157930X.2020.1855825
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Mendonça, Sandro & Silva, Eduardo & Damásio, Bruno, 2025. "The knowledge base of Big Tech: Research as a source of informational leadership by the dominant US digital platforms," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(7).
    2. Ron Boschma & Koen Frenken, 2026. "Advancing institutional theorizing in evolutionary economics," Economia e Politica Industriale: Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, Springer;Associazione Amici di Economia e Politica Industriale, vol. 53(1), pages 83-94, March.
    3. Rahul A Sirohi, 2024. "Corporate power and the rise of intangibles: A study of Indian firms," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 56(3), pages 865-882, May.
    4. Andrea Coveri & Claudio Cozza & Dario Guarascio, 2025. "Blurring Boundaries: An Analysis of the Digital Platforms-Military Nexus," Review of Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(4), pages 1632-1663, August.
    5. Katrin Hussinger & Lorenzo Palladini, 2024. "Information accessibility and knowledge creation: the impact of Google’s withdrawal from China on scientific research," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(6), pages 753-783, July.
    6. Alessio Terzi & Monika Sherwood & Aneil Singh, 2023. "European industrial policy for the green and digital revolution," Science and Public Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 50(5), pages 842-857.
    7. Dahlke, Johannes & Beck, Mathias & Kinne, Jan & Lenz, David & Dehghan, Robert & Wörter, Martin & Ebersberger, Bernd, 2024. "Epidemic effects in the diffusion of emerging digital technologies: evidence from artificial intelligence adoption," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(2).
    8. repec:osf:socarx:ub92z_v1 is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Paraná, Edemilson, 2024. "AI as financial infrastructure?," SocArXiv ub92z, Center for Open Science.
    10. Domenico Delli Gatti & Roberta Terranova & Enrico Maria Turco, 2024. "Industrial Policy in Times of Market Power," CESifo Working Paper Series 11544, CESifo.
    11. Coveri Andrea & Cozza Claudio & Guarascio Dario, 2025. "Big Tech and the US Digital-Military-Industrial Complex," Intereconomics: Review of European Economic Policy, Sciendo, vol. 60(2), pages 81-87.
    12. Danai Liodaki & Markus Sattler & Vangelis Papadimitropoulos & Thilo Lang, 2025. "Multiple Geographies of Commons‐Based Peer Production," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 10.

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