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Beyond R&D activities: the determinants of firms’ absorptive capacity explaining the access to scientific institutes in low--medium-tech contexts

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  • Jose-Luis Hervas-Oliver
  • Jos� Albors-Garrigos
  • Juan-Jose Baixauli

Abstract

A firm's search strategy is to use innovation inputs from external sources such as suppliers, clients, competitors, universities and research transfer offices (RTOs) to complement their in-house knowledge. Thus, a firm needs to be capable of identifying and valuing the potential value of certain external knowledge, i.e. absorptive capacity. Most of the studies regarding search patterns are reduced mostly to medium--high- and high-tech industries in which only the level of investment in R&D activities as determinant of a firm's search strategy is considered. In addition, when the flows of external knowledge arise from firm--university interactions, the evidence is still inconclusive, specifically for SMEs and low--medium-tech environments. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to explore the pattern of a firm's search strategy through its absorptive capacity to acquire external flows of knowledge from universities and RTOs. The paper draws especially on the role of non-R&D innovation activities in low--medium-tech sectors. Seven hundred and forty three innovative firms from the Spanish Ministry of Industry are analysed. Results suggest that human resources and other non-R&D activities are the core drivers explaining the cooperation agreements to access external knowledge from universities and RTOs. Surprisingly, R&D expenditures do not contribute to the explanation. This paper presents important implications for policy-makers beyond the classic R&D policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Jose-Luis Hervas-Oliver & Jos� Albors-Garrigos & Juan-Jose Baixauli, 2012. "Beyond R&D activities: the determinants of firms’ absorptive capacity explaining the access to scientific institutes in low--medium-tech contexts," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(1), pages 55-81, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:ecinnt:v:21:y:2012:i:1:p:55-81
    DOI: 10.1080/10438599.2011.555113
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Albaladejo, M. & Romijn, H., 2000. "Determinants of innovation capability in small UK firms: an empirical analysis," Working Papers 00.13, Eindhoven Center for Innovation Studies.
    2. Bengt-Åke Lundvall, 2002. "The University in the Learning Economy," DRUID Working Papers 02-06, DRUID, Copenhagen Business School, Department of Industrial Economics and Strategy/Aalborg University, Department of Business Studies.
    3. Rinaldo Evangelista, 1999. "Knowledge and Investment," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 1402.
    4. Henny Romijn and Manuel Albaladejo, "undated". "Determinants of Innovation Capability in Small UK Firms: An Empirical Analysis," QEH Working Papers qehwps40, Queen Elizabeth House, University of Oxford.
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    3. Chiara Franco & Alberto Marzucchi & Sandro Montresor, 2012. "Absorptive capacity, innovation cooperation and human-capital. Evidence from 3 European countries," JRC Research Reports JRC77090, Joint Research Centre.
    4. Reher, Leonie & Runst, Petrik & Thomä, Jörg & Bizer, Kilian, 2024. "Measuring non-R&D drivers of innovation: The case of SMEs in lagging regions," ifh Working Papers 45/2024, Volkswirtschaftliches Institut für Mittelstand und Handwerk an der Universität Göttingen (ifh).
    5. Thomä, Jörg & Zimmermann, Volker, 2019. "Non-R&D, interactive learning and economic performance: Revisiting innovation in small and medium enterprises," ifh Working Papers 17/2019, Volkswirtschaftliches Institut für Mittelstand und Handwerk an der Universität Göttingen (ifh).
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    8. Ratinger, Tomas & Bošková, Iveta, 2013. "Innovations and Knowledge Transfer for the Food Supply Chain Sustainability: Challenges in the Czech Dairy Industry," 53rd Annual Conference, Berlin, Germany, September 25-27, 2013 156130, German Association of Agricultural Economists (GEWISOLA).
    9. Weidner, Nadia & Som, Oliver & Horvat, Djerdj, 2023. "An integrated conceptual framework for analysing heterogeneous configurations of absorptive capacity in manufacturing firms with the DUI innovation mode," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    10. Arranz, N. & Arroyabe, M.F. & Li, Jun & de Arroyabe, J.C. Fernandez, 2019. "An integrated model of organisational innovation and firm performance: Generation, persistence and complementarity," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 270-282.
    11. Runst, Petrik & Thomä, Jörg, 2020. "Does Personality Matter? Small Business Owners and Modes of Innovation," ifh Working Papers 24/2020, Volkswirtschaftliches Institut für Mittelstand und Handwerk an der Universität Göttingen (ifh), revised 2020.
    12. Mikko Moilanen & Stein Østbye & Kristin Woll, 2014. "Non-R&D SMEs: external knowledge, absorptive capacity and product innovation," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 43(2), pages 447-462, August.

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