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How Knowledge Acquisition Diversity Affects Innovation Performance during the Technological Catch-Up in Emerging Economies: A Moderated Inverse U-Shape Relationship

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  • Qiang Li

    (School of Business, Zhejiang University City College, Hangzhou 310015, China)

  • Jing-Jing Guo

    (Institutes of Science and Development, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
    School of Public Policy and Management, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China)

  • Wei Liu

    (Business School, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266100, China)

  • Xiao-Guang Yue

    (Department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Sciences, European University Cyprus, Nicosia 1516, Cyprus
    CIICESI-ESTG, Porto Polytechnic, Felgueiras 4610-156, Portugal)

  • Nelson Duarte

    (CIICESI-ESTG, Porto Polytechnic, Felgueiras 4610-156, Portugal)

  • Carla Pereira

    (CIICESI-ESTG, Porto Polytechnic, Felgueiras 4610-156, Portugal
    INESC TEC, Porto 4200-465, Portugal)

Abstract

Many domestic enterprises in emerging economies are concerned with the question of how to better utilize the portfolio of technology sourcing channels to achieve rapid economic growth by technological innovation. This paper looks at this issue by exploring the impacts of knowledge acquisition diversity (KAD) on innovation performance of domestic enterprises in China and the technological contexts (in terms of technology gap and technology development speed) under which KAD is most likely to contribute. Using panel data of the manufacturing industry in China over the 2001–2009 period, the results show that KAD has an inverse U-shaped relationship with innovation performance in terms of both product-related innovation performance (NPS) and knowledge-related innovation performance (PAT). Specifically, it reveals that the capability to generate technological innovation over time is dependent on how domestic enterprises manage their portfolio of knowledge sourcing channels to learn from foreign enterprises. Moreover, it is shown that the technology gap significantly moderates the inverted U-shaped relationship between KAD and both NPS and PAT. Technology development speed has a moderating effect on the inverted U-shaped relationship between KAD and innovation only in terms of NPS. The results of this study can help us to understand the relationships among technological contexts, KAD and innovation performance of domestic enterprises in emerging countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Qiang Li & Jing-Jing Guo & Wei Liu & Xiao-Guang Yue & Nelson Duarte & Carla Pereira, 2020. "How Knowledge Acquisition Diversity Affects Innovation Performance during the Technological Catch-Up in Emerging Economies: A Moderated Inverse U-Shape Relationship," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-19, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:3:p:945-:d:313814
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