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Technological Collaboration: Bridging the Innovation Gap between Small and Large Firms

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  • María Jesús Nieto
  • Lluís Santamaría

Abstract

This paper analyzes how technological collaboration acts as an input to the innovation process and allows small and medium‐sized enterprises to bridge the innovation gap with their bigger counterparts. Based on a large longitudinal sample of Spanish manufacturing firms, the results show that though technological collaboration is a useful mechanism for firms of all sizes to improve innovativeness, it is a critical factor for the smallest firms. The impact of this collaboration varies depending on innovation output and type of partner. Specifically, the impact of collaboration in small and medium‐sized firms is more significant for product than process innovations. Regarding type of partner, vertical collaboration—with suppliers and clients—has the greatest impact on firm innovativeness, though this effect is clearer for medium‐sized enterprises than for the smallest firms.

Suggested Citation

  • María Jesús Nieto & Lluís Santamaría, 2010. "Technological Collaboration: Bridging the Innovation Gap between Small and Large Firms," Journal of Small Business Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 48(1), pages 44-69, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:ujbmxx:v:48:y:2010:i:1:p:44-69
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-627X.2009.00286.x
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    Cited by:

    1. David Córcoles & Ángela Triguero & María C. Cuerva, 2025. "Technological Collaboration and the Industry 4.0 Transformation: Evidence for Spanish Manufacturing Firms," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 16(6), pages 17664-17698, December.
    2. Ning Baines & Te Klangboonkrong & Helen Lawton Smith, 2024. "Exploring product/service innovation process in UK: university spin-offs from practice-based lens," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 49(2), pages 715-739, April.
    3. Andres Barge-Gil, 2010. "Open, Semi-Open and Closed Innovators: Towards an Explanation of Degree of Openness," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 17(6), pages 577-607.
    4. Daniela Bolzani & Alessandra Scandura, 2024. "The role of collaboration networks for innovation in immigrant-owned new technology-based firms," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 49(4), pages 1203-1233, August.
    5. Sofia Wixe & Pia Nilsson & Lucia Naldi & Hans Westlund, 2023. "Correction to: The role of collaboration and external knowledge for innovation in small food firms," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 70(1), pages 157-157, February.
    6. Sara Amoroso & Simone Vannuccini, 2019. "Teaming up with Large R&D Investors: Good or Bad for Knowledge Production and Diffusion?," JRC Working Papers on Corporate R&D and Innovation 2019-05, Joint Research Centre.
    7. Beynon, Malcolm J. & Jones, Paul & Pickernell, David, 2023. "Evaluating EU-Region level innovation readiness: A longitudinal analysis using principal component analysis and a constellation graph index approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    8. Alex J. Guerrero & Joost Heijs & Elena Huergo, 2023. "The effect of technological relatedness on firm sales evolution through external knowledge sourcing," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 48(2), pages 476-514, April.
    9. Miftah Zikri & Syed Shams & Afzalur Rashid & Chandrasekhar Krishnamurti, 2024. "Does size matter? Examining the probability of firm emergence from bankruptcy," International Review of Finance, International Review of Finance Ltd., vol. 24(4), pages 669-713, December.
    10. Kim, Jae Moon & Park, Ji-Hoon, 2024. "When is digital transformation beneficial for coupled open innovation? The contingent role of the adoption of industry 4.0 technologies," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    11. Juergensen, Jill Josefina & Love, James H. & Surdu, Irina & Narula, Rajneesh, 2024. "Learning-by-exporting: The strategic role of organizational innovation," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(6).
    12. Jozsef TOTH & Imre FERTO, 2017. "Innovation in the Hungarian food economy," Agricultural Economics, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 63(1), pages 43-51.
    13. Gibson Muridzi, 2023. "Implication of internet of things (IoT) on organisational performance for SMEs in emerging economies – a systematic review," Technology audit and production reserves, PC TECHNOLOGY CENTER, vol. 6(4(74)), pages 27-35, December.
    14. Yu, Anyu & Zhang, Qin & Yu, Rongjian & Cheng, Yu, 2023. "More is better or in waste? A resource allocation measure of government grants for facilitating firm innovations," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    15. Hipp, Ann & Kohlisch, Enno, 2026. "Successful digital technology development: A multilevel and spatial approach on organizations and their ecosystems," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 223(C).
    16. Anna‐Maria Kindt & Matthias Geissler & Kilian Bühling, 2022. "Be my (little) partner?!—Universities' role in regional innovation systems when large firms are rare," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 62(5), pages 1274-1295, November.
    17. Almodóvar, Paloma & Nguyen, Quyen T.K., 2022. "Product innovation of domestic firms versus foreign MNE subsidiaries: The role of external knowledge sources," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    18. Samarth Gupta, 2023. "Model-Selection Inference for Causal Impact of Clusters and Collaboration on MSMEs in India," Journal of Quantitative Economics, Springer;The Indian Econometric Society (TIES), vol. 21(3), pages 641-662, September.
    19. Jorge Moreno-Gómez & Juan Carlos Londoño & Luis Felipe Zapata-Upegui, 2023. "Marketing strategy and competitiveness: Evidence from Colombian SMEs," TEC Empresarial, School of Business, Costa Rica Institute of Technology (ITCR), vol. 17(2), pages 48-64.
    20. Paula Quiroz‐Rojas & Mercedes Teruel, 2024. "The role of information sources as a driver of innovation," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 45(6), pages 4173-4190, September.
    21. Henrietta N. Onwuegbuzie & Oluwasoye P. Mafimisebi & Eseroghene Orighoyegha, 2025. "Indigenous Knowledge and Entrepreneurship as a Strategy for Sustainable Development in Africa," FIIB Business Review, , vol. 14(5), pages 553-565, October.
    22. Angela Rocio Vasquez-Urriago & Andrés Barge-Gil & Aurelia Modrego Rico, 2016. "Which firms benefit more from being located in a Science and Technology Park? Empirical evidence for Spain," Research Evaluation, Oxford University Press, vol. 25(1), pages 107-117.

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