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The Absorptive Capacity of Non-R&D-Intensive Firms

In: Low-tech Innovation

Author

Listed:
  • Oliver Som

    (Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI)

  • Eva Kirner

    (Furtwangen University (FHU))

  • Angela Jäger

    (Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI)

Abstract

This chapter analyses and compares different dimensions of non-R&D-intensive and very R&D-intensive manufacturing firms’ absorptive capacity (AC). The empirical analysis is based on firm level data obtained by a telephone survey in early 2010 among more than 200 non-R&D-intensive firms and 88 firms with a high R&D-intensity in the German manufacturing industry. The results show that there is surprisingly little difference in the level of AC between R&D-intensive and non-R&D-intensive firms – if the firm specific relevance of such external impulses is being taken into consideration. This is a surprising finding in so far, as it indicates that R&D intensity might not be a limiting factor for firm’s ability to recognize and implement scientific knowledge per se. Thereby, the findings presented in this chapter underline the necessity to further improve and supplement the measurement concept of firms’ AC beyond their mere R&D intensity by taking into account the strategic importance of different types of external knowledge.

Suggested Citation

  • Oliver Som & Eva Kirner & Angela Jäger, 2015. "The Absorptive Capacity of Non-R&D-Intensive Firms," Springer Books, in: Oliver Som & Eva Kirner (ed.), Low-tech Innovation, edition 127, chapter 0, pages 145-164, Springer.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-3-319-09973-6_9
    DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-09973-6_9
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Petrik Runst & Jörg Thomä, 2022. "Does personality matter? Small business owners and modes of innovation," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 58(4), pages 2235-2260, April.
    2. Antonia Terán-Bustamante & Antonieta Martínez-Velasco & Víctor Manuel Castillo-Girón & Suhey Ayala-Ramírez, 2022. "Innovation and Technological Management Model in the Tequila Sector in Mexico," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-23, June.
    3. 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.
    4. Alhusen, Harm & Bennat, Tatjana & Bizer, Kilian & Cantner, Uwe & Horstmann, Elaine & Kalthaus, Martin & Proeger, Till & Sternberg, Rolf & Töpfer, Stefan, 2021. "A New Measurement Conception for the ‘Doing-Using-Interacting’ Mode of Innovation," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(4).

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