The problem of collective increment of knowledge and joint innovation in the structure of interfirm agreements between rival firms[Проблема Коллективного Приращения Знаний И Совместной Инновационной Деятельности В Структуре Межфирменных Соглашений Между Соперничающими Фирмами]

In interfirm strategic alliances, which are forged between direct competitors, two kinds of knowledge-related processes take place at the same time. On one hand, parties to interfirm agreements engage in knowledge and information exchange, with an aim to produce incremental innovations, while not relinquishing control over important parts of knowledge underlying their competitive advantage. On the other hand, partners should recombine their intellectual assets and transform the knowledge they receive in order to create radically novel products, processes and technologies, which boost competitive advantage not for single players, but for all parties involved in strategic collaboration.