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Importance of international linkages for local know-how flows. Some econometric evidence from Belgium

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  • Reinhilde Veugelers
  • Bruno Cassiman

Abstract

External knowledge is an important input for the innovation process of firms. Increasingly, this knowledge is likely to originate from outside of their national borders. This explains the preoccupation of policymakers with stimulating local technology transfers coming from international firms. We find that firms that have access to the international technology market are more likely to transfer technology to the local economy. In doing so, we qualify the traditional assertion that multinational firms are more likely to transfer technology to the local economy. Once controlled for the superior access to the international technology market that multinationals enjoy, we find that these firms are not more likely to transfer technology to the local economy compared to exporting or local firms that have access to the international technology market. In summary, the main result of this paper is that it is not so much the international character of the firms, but rather their access to the international technology market that is important for generating external knowledge transfers to the local economy.

Suggested Citation

  • Reinhilde Veugelers & Bruno Cassiman, 2000. "Importance of international linkages for local know-how flows. Some econometric evidence from Belgium," Economics Working Papers 434, Department of Economics and Business, Universitat Pompeu Fabra.
    • Handle: RePEc:upf:upfgen:434
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    Cited by:

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    2. Valeria Gattai, 2010. "Firm's intangible assets and multinational activity: Full versus shared ownership," The Journal of International Trade & Economic Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(4), pages 553-589.
    3. Sofka, Wolfgang, 2005. "Global Idea Sourcing: An Empirical Investigation into the Mechanisms Behind the Usage of Foreign Business Sources for Innovation," ZEW Discussion Papers 05-53, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    4. Lejour, Arjan & Rojas Romasgosa, Hugo & Rodriguez, Victor & Montalvo, Carvos & Van der Zee, Frans, 2009. "Trade costs, Openness and Productivity: Market Access at Home and Abroad," MPRA Paper 21214, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. T.N. Srinivasan & Vani Archana, 2010. "India in the Global and Regional Trade: Determinants of Aggregate and Bilateral Trade Flows and Firms’ Decision to Export," Working Papers id:2881, eSocialSciences.
    6. Barrios, Salvador & Bertinelli, Luisito & Heinen, Andreas, 2007. "Exploring The Link Between Local And Global Knowledge Spillovers," MPRA Paper 6239, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Laura Sánchez Pulido & Jordi Moreno Gené & José Luis Gallizo Larraz, 2022. "Internationalization of family firms: the effect of CEO attributes," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 26(4), pages 1123-1154, December.
    8. Paola Criscuolo, 2003. "Reverse Technology Transfer: A Patent Citation Analysis of the European Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sectors," SPRU Working Paper Series 107, SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex Business School.
    9. W. Sofka, 2008. "Globalizing Domestic Absorptive Capacities," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 48(6), pages 769-792, December.
    10. Cassiman, Bruno & Golovko, Elena, 2009. "Productivity of Catalan firms. International exposure and (product) innovation," IESE Research Papers D/808, IESE Business School.
    11. Prakash Singh & Dibyendu Maiti, 2019. "Sources of Finance, Innovation and Exportability in Asia: Cross-country Evidences," Journal of Asian Economic Integration, , vol. 1(1), pages 73-96, April.
    12. Martina Kauffeld-Monz & Michael Fritsch, 2013. "Who Are the Knowledge Brokers in Regional Systems of Innovation? A Multi-Actor Network Analysis," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 47(5), pages 669-685, May.
    13. Elif Bascavusoglu-Moreau & Qian Cher Li, 2013. "Knowledge Spillovers & Sources of Knowledge in the Manufacturing Sector: Literature Review & Empirical Evidence for the UK," Working Papers wp451, Centre for Business Research, University of Cambridge.
    14. Criscuolo, Paola, 2002. "Reverse Technology Transfer: A Patent Citation Analysis of the European Chemical and Pharmaceutical sectors," Research Memorandum 036, Maastricht University, Maastricht Economic Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    15. T.N. Srinivasan & Vani Archana, 2009. "India in the Global and Regional Trade - Determinants of Aggregate and Bilateral Trade Flows and Firms’ Decision to Export," Trade Working Papers 22261, East Asian Bureau of Economic Research.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    International technology transfers; know-how flows; cooperation in R&D; host economy benefits;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D23 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Organizational Behavior; Transaction Costs; Property Rights
    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business
    • L22 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Organization and Market Structure
    • 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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