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Joint forces: Towards an integration of intellectual capital theory and the open innovation paradigm

Author

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  • Barrena Martinez, Jesus
  • Criceli, Livio
  • Ferrándiz, Esther
  • Greco, Marco
  • Grimaldi, Michele

Abstract

Intellectual capital (IC) is among the most long-lived topics in managerial literature. More recently, the emergence of the open innovation (OI) paradigm has encouraged the understanding that firms should collaborate with other organizations to leverage their own R&D capabilities. We propose that these two streams of managerial literature should join forces since the OI paradigm could be considered an approach to innovation with foundations in relational capital, facilitated by an appropriate level of human and structural capital. Surprisingly, only a few researchers have put IC and OI into relation. Therefore, this paper has two main goals: providing a theoretical model that synoptically presents how IC and OI overlap and testing the theoretical model by analyzing how firms’ IC affects OI-related performance. We analyze a sample of 3744 Spanish firms. We find that the three IC constructs positively affect OI performance, with relational and human capital subject to diminishing returns.

Suggested Citation

  • Barrena Martinez, Jesus & Criceli, Livio & Ferrándiz, Esther & Greco, Marco & Grimaldi, Michele, 2020. "Joint forces: Towards an integration of intellectual capital theory and the open innovation paradigm," MPRA Paper 123400, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:123400
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Muthu Silva & Federica Rossi & Nicola Searle, 2025. "How do firms shape their interactions with universities to build structural, human and relational capital? A mixed-method study of UK firms that interact with universities," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 50(4), pages 1633-1668, August.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • O3 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights
    • O30 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - General
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D

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