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European SMEs’ engagement in open innovation When the important thing is to win and not just to participate, what should innovation policy do?

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  • De Marco, Chiara Eleonora
  • Martelli, Irene
  • Di Minin, Alberto

Abstract

This exploratory study proposes an original methodology to operationalize and signal SMEs’ engagement in challenging dimensions of implementing Open Innovation. We verify whether the European SME Instrument is achieving its goal of providing public funds to the best SMEs in Europe, the ‘EU Innovation Champions’. We test our methodology on a sample of SMEs operating in the digital sector. We found that the SMEs awarded the grants are less engaged in the challenging dimensions of Open Innovation than companies that did not receive any funding. This is contrary to the intended goals of the grants. We provide policy and methodological implications relevant for the design of better OI-informed policy and the more effective evaluation of companies participating in the SME Instrument.

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  • De Marco, Chiara Eleonora & Martelli, Irene & Di Minin, Alberto, 2020. "European SMEs’ engagement in open innovation When the important thing is to win and not just to participate, what should innovation policy do?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:152:y:2020:i:c:s0040162518315476
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2019.119843
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    4. Hervás-Oliver, José-Luis & Parrilli, Mario Davide & Rodríguez-Pose, Andrés & Sempere-Ripoll, Francisca, 2021. "The drivers of SME innovation in the regions of the EU," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(9).
    5. Soluk, Jonas & Decker-Lange, Carolin & Hack, Andreas, 2023. "Small steps for the big hit: A dynamic capabilities perspective on business networks and non-disruptive digital technologies in SMEs," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    6. Zhifeng Shen & Ahsan Siraj & Hongbing Jiang & Yongming Zhu & Junjie Li, 2020. "Chinese-Style Innovation and Its International Repercussions in the New Economic Times," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-17, March.
    7. Onea Ioana Alexandra, 2020. "Innovation indicators in the context of Romanian SMEs: A research agenda," Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, Sciendo, vol. 14(1), pages 149-158, July.
    8. Aiping Tao & Qi Qi & Yi Li & Dan Da & Valentina Boamah & Decai Tang, 2022. "Game Analysis of the Open-Source Innovation Benefits of Two Enterprises from the Perspective of Product Homogenization and the Enterprise Strength Gap," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-22, May.
    9. Fernandez de Arroyabe, Juan Carlos & Schumann, Martin & Sena, Vania & Lucas, Pablo, 2021. "Understanding the network structure of agri-food FP7 projects: An approach to the effectiveness of innovation systems," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    10. Franzò, Simone & Doppio, Nicola & Natalicchio, Angelo & Frattini, Federico & Mion, Luca, 2023. "Designing innovation contests to support external knowledge search in small and medium-sized enterprises," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    11. Fasano, Francesco & Rocca, Maurizio La & Cariola, Alfio & Passarelli, Mariacarmela, 2023. "Banking relationship and research spin-offs’ life cycle: The Italian experience," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    12. Bertello, Alberto & De Bernardi, Paola & Ferraris, Alberto & Bresciani, Stefano, 2022. "Shedding lights on organizational decoupling in publicly funded R&D consortia: An institutional perspective on open innovation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    13. Marzi, Giacomo & Fakhar Manesh, Mohammad & Caputo, Andrea & Pellegrini, Massimiliano Matteo & Vlačić, Božidar, 2023. "Do or do not. Cognitive configurations affecting open innovation adoption in SMEs," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Open innovation; Innovation policy; SMEs; SME Instrument;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O30 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - General
    • O38 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Government Policy

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