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Complementarity between In-house R&D and Technology Purchasing: Evidence from Chinese Manufacturing Firms

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  • Jun Hou
  • Pierre Mohnen

Abstract

In order to catch up with the current technological frontier, firms, especially in developing countries, try to acquire technological advancement through internal R&D efforts, as well as through external technology-sourcing activities. This study tests whether these two sources of technology acquisition are complements or substitutes for each other in small- and medium-sized Chinese manufacturing firms. The evidence that we present shows some signs of complementarity between the two sources of knowledge in reaching a higher unconditional intensity of product innovation for firms with 100--300 employees and, in general, a significant degree of substitutability between them in achieving higher levels of labour productivity.

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  • Jun Hou & Pierre Mohnen, 2013. "Complementarity between In-house R&D and Technology Purchasing: Evidence from Chinese Manufacturing Firms," Oxford Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 41(3), pages 343-371, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:oxdevs:v:41:y:2013:i:3:p:343-371
    DOI: 10.1080/13600818.2013.807910
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    2. Mariana Spatareanu, 2023. "Acquiring Innovation - Do Chinese acquisitions in developed countries spur innovation at home?," Working Papers Rutgers University, Newark 2023-002, Department of Economics, Rutgers University, Newark.
    3. Dürr, Niklas S. & Rammer, Christian & Böing, Philipp, 2020. "Direktinvestitionen zwischen Deutschland und China aus einer innovationspolitischen Sicht: Studie im Auftrag der Expertenkommission Forschung und Innovation," Studien zum deutschen Innovationssystem 8-2020, Expertenkommission Forschung und Innovation (EFI) - Commission of Experts for Research and Innovation, Berlin.
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    8. Xiaolan Fu & Peter J. Buckley & Diego Sanchez-Ancochea & Ines Hassan, 2022. "The world has a unique opportunity: Accelerating technology transfer and vaccine production through partnerships," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 5(3), pages 406-415, September.
    9. Jianping Liu & Kai Lu & Shixiong Cheng, 2018. "International R&D Spillovers and Innovation Efficiency," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-23, October.
    10. Böing, Philipp & Müller, Elisabeth & Sandner, Philipp, 2013. "In-house R&D and External Knowledge Acquisition What Makes Chinese Firms Productive?," VfS Annual Conference 2013 (Duesseldorf): Competition Policy and Regulation in a Global Economic Order 80037, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
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    13. Lin, Chia-Ling & Lin, Hui-Lin & Lin, Eric S., 2016. "Is There A Complementary Relationship Between Product And Process Innovation On Productivity In Taiwanese Manufacturing Firms?," Hitotsubashi Journal of Economics, Hitotsubashi University, vol. 57(2), pages 139-173, December.
    14. Carlos Bianchi & Hugo Laguna, 2020. "Firm’s innovation strategies and employment: new evidence from Uruguay," Documentos de Trabajo (working papers) 20-06, Instituto de Economía - IECON.
    15. Uluc Aysun & Zeynep Yom, 2019. "R&D, innovation spillover and business cycles," Villanova School of Business Department of Economics and Statistics Working Paper Series 43, Villanova School of Business Department of Economics and Statistics.
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    JEL classification:

    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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