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Assessing the returns to collaborative research: Firm-level evidence from Italy

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  • Giuseppe Medda
  • Claudio Piga
  • Donald Siegel

Abstract

We use firm-level data from Italian manufacturing firms to assess the relationship between various types of R&D and total factor productivity growth, including collaborative research with other firms and universities. A novel twist to our empirical analysis is that we estimate a sample selection model, which allows us to treat the decision to conduct R&D as endogenous. We find strong evidence of positive returns to collaborative research with other companies, whereas collaborative research with universities does not appear to enhance productivity. This result implies that firms may conduct R&D with universities when appropriability conditions are weak and the outcomes of such research projects do not yield direct strategic benefits.

Suggested Citation

  • Giuseppe Medda & Claudio Piga & Donald Siegel, 2006. "Assessing the returns to collaborative research: Firm-level evidence from Italy," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(1), pages 37-50.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:ecinnt:v:15:y:2006:i:1:p:37-50
    DOI: 10.1080/1043859042000332213
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    Cited by:

    1. Jankowska, Barbara & Götz, Marta & Główka, Cezary, 2017. "Intra-Cluster Cooperation Enhancing SMEs’ Competitiveness - The Role of Cluster Organisations in Poland," INVESTIGACIONES REGIONALES - Journal of REGIONAL RESEARCH, Asociación Española de Ciencia Regional, issue 39, pages 195-214.
    2. Claudio A. Piga & Gianfranco Atzeni, 2007. "R&D Investment, Credit Rationing And Sample Selection," Bulletin of Economic Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 59(2), pages 149-178, April.
    3. Giuseppe Medda & Claudio Piga, 2014. "Technological spillovers and productivity in Italian manufacturing firms," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 41(3), pages 419-434, June.
    4. María García-Vega & Óscar Vicente-Chirivella, 2020. "The effect of technology transfers from public research institutes and universities on firm innovativeness," Discussion Papers 2020-10, University of Nottingham, GEP.
    5. Hans Lööf & Anders Broström, 2008. "Does knowledge diffusion between university and industry increase innovativeness?," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 33(1), pages 73-90, February.
    6. Ugo RIZZO & Valerio STERZI, 2022. "Characterising science-industry patent collaborations: knowledge base, impact and economic value," Bordeaux Economics Working Papers 2022-15, Bordeaux School of Economics (BSE).
    7. Almas Heshmati & Hyesung Kim, 2011. "The R&D and productivity relationship of Korean listed firms," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 36(2), pages 125-142, October.
    8. Daniela Cagno & Andrea Fabrizi & Valentina Meliciani, 2014. "The impact of participation in European joint research projects on knowledge creation and economic growth," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 39(6), pages 836-858, December.
    9. Paola Cardamone & Valeria Pupo & Fernanda Ricotta, 2012. "University And Firm Performance In The Italian Manufacturing Sector," Working Papers 201207, Università della Calabria, Dipartimento di Economia, Statistica e Finanza "Giovanni Anania" - DESF.
    10. Sumit Majumdar, 2011. "Scalability versus flexibility: firm size and R&D in Indian industry," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 36(1), pages 101-116, February.
    11. Veronica Scuotto & Manlio Del Giudice & Alexeis Garcia-Perez & Beatrice Orlando & Francesco Ciampi, 2020. "A spill over effect of entrepreneurial orientation on technological innovativeness: an outlook of universities and research based spin offs," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 45(6), pages 1634-1654, December.
    12. Valentina Meliciani & Daniela Cagno & Andrea Fabrizi & Marco Marini, 2022. "Knowledge networks in joint research projects, innovation and economic growth across European regions," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 68(3), pages 549-586, June.
    13. Shishir Saxena, 2011. "Technology and spillovers: evidence from Indian manufacturing microdata," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 43(10), pages 1271-1287.
    14. Roger Svensson, 2013. "Publicly-funded R&D programs and survival of patents," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(10), pages 1343-1358, April.
    15. Lhuillery, Stéphane & Pfister, Etienne, 2009. "R&D cooperation and failures in innovation projects: Empirical evidence from French CIS data," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(1), pages 45-57, February.
    16. Daniela Bragoli & Flavia Cortelezzi & Massimiliano Rigon, 2023. "Firms' innovation and university cooperation. New evidence from a survey of Italian firms," Temi di discussione (Economic working papers) 1400, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
    17. Scandura, Alessandra, 2016. "University–industry collaboration and firms’ R&D effort," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(9), pages 1907-1922.
    18. Cristian Barra & Nazzareno Ruggiero, 2023. "Quality of Government and Types of Innovation—Empirical Evidence for Italian Manufacturing Firms," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 14(2), pages 1749-1789, June.
    19. Torregrosa-Hetland, Sara & Pelkonen, Antti & Oksanen, Juha & Kander, Astrid, 2019. "The prevalence of publicly stimulated innovations –A comparison of Finland and Sweden, 1970–2013," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(6), pages 1373-1384.
    20. Alessandra Scandura, 2019. "The role of scientific and market knowledge in the inventive process: evidence from a survey of industrial inventors," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 44(4), pages 1029-1069, August.
    21. Dennis Patrick Leyden, 2016. "Universities as partners in research joint ventures," Economia e Politica Industriale: Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, Springer;Associazione Amici di Economia e Politica Industriale, vol. 43(4), pages 449-462, December.
    22. Kirkels, Yvonne & Duysters, Geert, 2010. "Brokerage in SME networks," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(3), pages 375-385, April.

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