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How do foreign firms patent in emerging economies with weak appropriability regimes? Archetypes and motives

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  • Keupp, Marcus Matthias
  • Friesike, Sascha
  • von Zedtwitz, Maximilian

Abstract

Foreign firms patent in emerging economies with weak appropriability regimes at an increasing rate. This phenomenon constitutes a paradox since in such a setting foreign firms should have weak incentives to patent. In an attempt to resolve this paradox, we conducted an inductive analysis of 11 foreign firms that patent in such a setting, using the case of China as our empirical context. We identify four archetypes of foreign firms and three key antecedents the interaction of which determines which archetype a firm can be subsumed under.

Suggested Citation

  • Keupp, Marcus Matthias & Friesike, Sascha & von Zedtwitz, Maximilian, 2012. "How do foreign firms patent in emerging economies with weak appropriability regimes? Archetypes and motives," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(8), pages 1422-1439.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:respol:v:41:y:2012:i:8:p:1422-1439
    DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2012.03.019
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