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Robot adoption and product innovation

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  • Antonioli, Davide
  • Marzucchi, Alberto
  • Rentocchini, Francesco
  • Vannuccini, Simone

Abstract

We investigate the unexplored relationship between robot technology adoption and product innovation. We exploit Spanish firm-level data on robot adoption and use a staggered timing difference-in-differences, supported by an instrumental variable approach. Instead of an enabling effect, we find a negative association between robot adoption and the probability to introduce product innovations, as well as their number. The result is particularly significant for larger, established, and non-high-tech firms. In line with industry evolution models, we rationalise and interpret the findings suggesting that a key mechanism at work in the robotisation-innovation nexus are diseconomies of scope fuelled by capacity-increasing investments. We also discuss whether industrial robots in our data feature enabling capabilities at all. Our results have important implications for understanding the role of robots in firms' operations and strategies, as well as for policy design.

Suggested Citation

  • Antonioli, Davide & Marzucchi, Alberto & Rentocchini, Francesco & Vannuccini, Simone, 2024. "Robot adoption and product innovation," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(6).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:respol:v:53:y:2024:i:6:s0048733324000519
    DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2024.105002
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Robots; Automation; Product innovation; Industry evolution;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D22 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Empirical Analysis
    • 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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