R&D laboratory classification and public policy: The effects of environmental context on laboratory behavior

R&D laboratories have changed dramatically in the last few decades. These changes have included the emergence of new laboratory forms such as cooperative and joint venture laboratories and the evolution of existing industrial, university and government laboratories into new and different entities. The utility of classifying R&D organizations as being industrial, university or governmental in character and then further assuming certain behavioral traits based on sector status appears to be limited. Science policy analysts need an updated classification typology that captures the nature of the existing institutional framework for R&D laboratories. To address this need, this paper presents a new conceptual typology for R&D laboratory classification and evaluates the implications of this re-thinking for science policy analysts.It is argued that R&D laboratories, like most organizations, are to a large extent functions of their environment. Realizing that the environment of R&D organizations are heavily influenced by the government, the market or both, the typology presented in this paper classifies R&D organizations accordingly. The resulting classification typology establishes 9 clearly different research laboratory types.Using survey data from a study population of 250 laboratories and case study data from 32 laboratories, it was found that the typology did capture the significant structural and behavioral differences among the array of laboratories operating today. A preliminary analysis of the policy implications of the new classification typology indicates that new initiatives to increase the level of market influence on R&D laboratories or to create more cooperative research ventures should be carefully considered before implementation.     

Intangible resources and technology adoption in manufacturing firms

Our objective in this paper is to analyse the determinants of the use of advanced manufacturing technologies in manufacturing firms. We go beyond more traditional approaches and consider the role of complementarities in technology adoption at two levels. First, we adapt Teece's (1986) framework to study the incentives to use new technology that stem from investments in R&D, human capital and advertising. Second, we analyse whether technology use is conditioned by a system effect that arises from the use of related technologies. We test our hypotheses on a representative sample of manufacturing firms in Spain. Our results fully support the idea that R&D investments increase the likelihood of technology use, but only offer partial support for human capital and advertising investments. Export intensity, being part of a business group and epidemic effects are also important determinants of adoption.     

Mobility of knowledge work and affordances of digital technologies

The focus of this work arises from two needs within information science literature: (1) to understand more, from an empirically driven perspective, about the increasingly visible yet understudied mobile work population, and (2) to address more clearly, from a theoretical standpoint, the ways in which information and communication technologies (ICTs) mediate the work practices of these mobile workers. Drawing on the affordance perspective, this research goes beyond simplistic conceptualizations of technological effects to explore the roles of multiple ICTs in enabling mobile knowledge work. In this paper, the use of ICTs in mobilizing information practices and the ways in which ICTs generate affordances along different mobility dimensions (spatial, temporal, contextual, and social) are examined. The empirical base of this research is a field of study of 33 mobile knowledge workers (MKWs); broadly, it focuses on the ways they employ ICTs to accomplish work in dynamic and unpredictable work conditions.     

西方企业R＆D的演进及其启示

主要对西方R＆D企业内部化及其演进的历史进行了回顾,并从其演进过程获得一些有益的启示。在新的创新环境面前,我国企业应加强企业R＆D的管理,促进企业R＆D的内部化进程,在新一轮的创新机遇中适时跨越发展。     

西方企业R＆D的演进及其启示

主要对西方R＆D企业内部化及其演进的历史进行了回顾，并从其演进过程获得一些有益的启示。在新的创新环境面前，我国企业应加强企业R＆D的管理，促进企业R＆D的内部化进程，在新一轮的创新机遇中适时跨越发展。     

Knowledge sharing in project-based organizations: Overcoming the informational limbo

Project-based organizations (PBO) are nowadays widespread in almost all the activity sectors. This type of organizations poses complex problems for information and knowledge management due to the fragmentation and lack of uniformity of organizational structures, processes, practices, and technologies. The ineffectiveness of knowledge sharing over time, between project teams, is perhaps the most prominent issue that PBO must deal with. This strongly affects organizational learning, which seems to under-deliver value to PBO. Therefore, relevant knowledge is trapped in an “informational limbo” out of reach, not being capitalized for the organization. This is particularly true in research and development (R&D) institutions, where knowledge sharing can be hindered by conceptual misunderstandings resulting from different disciplines, cultures and ways of working of project participants. This paper addresses such issues by analyzing, in a comprehensive way, how information and knowledge management can better suit project team's needs and at the same time improve organizational learning. An ethnographic study, based on immersed participant observation, is performed at a Portuguese R&D Institute, in order to understand the link between the way information is managed in a project and how people interact and learn by sharing knowledge between projects. Results provide a set of enterprise information management (EIM) recommendations. Findings also suggest that a PBO-wide EIM strategy, balancing knowledge codification and personalization mechanisms, is a feasible solution to overcome the problems of knowledge sharing in PBO.     

Sources of innovation and industry-university interaction: Evidence from Spanish firms

In this paper we use a sample of Spanish innovative firms to identify the determinants of R&D cooperation agreements between five types of partners: firms that belong to the same group; customers and suppliers; competitors; universities; public research centres. We focus on the determinants of R&D cooperation between innovative firms and universities. We used the Spanish version of the Community Innovation Survey (CIS-3) to obtain data about the R&D cooperation of 4150 innovative firms in Spain. To obtain empirical evidence about the determinants of this cooperation, we adopted an integrated approach that enables us to compare the effects of sectorial and individual determinants on the choice of partners. Our results show that a firm's cooperation activities are closely linked to the characteristics of the industry and the characteristics of the firm. These include R&D intensity, size, whether the firm belongs to a group, product and process innovation, and access to public funds for R&D activities. Internal R&D and agreements with customers, suppliers and competitor partners also increase firm's propensity for R&D cooperation with universities.     

A case analysis of semantic technologies for R&D intermediation information management

It is evident that companies and research centres can find a myriad of instruments to fund their R&D (Research & Development) activities. Due to the dynamics of the information management in these circumstances there is a need for intermediary businesses intervention. Consequently, intermediary companies are thus involved in a complex process that needs to be managed and controlled. Within this scenario an Information Technology (IT) platform, named RDi-Advise, was developed by EgeoIT using semantic technologies to support R&D process decisions. This case analysis describes the development and implementation of the platform including the lessons learned during the activity period.     

虚拟R＆D网络组织边界分析

虚拟R＆D网络组织边界问题是理解当代科学技术活动演化的重要问题.结合组织网络化发展的趋势,分析了组织边界的内涵,并在此基础上讨论了如何界定虚拟R＆D网络组织的边界,还对决定虚拟R＆D组织边界的重要因素做了进一步的研究,以期深化对这一问题的理解。     

The effect of financial constraints, absorptive capacity and complementarities on the adoption of multiple process technologies

This paper investigates the factors affecting the multiple adoption of new process technologies in manufacturing. We focus our attention on the effect of both financial resources and absorptive capacity on the decision to introduce the technology. We argue in favour of a negative effect of financial constraints and provide reasons for a differential effect of internal and external R&D on innovation adoption. Additionally, the methodology allows us to consider the possible complementarities arising when firms adopt several new process technologies. Our results show that financial constraints are dependent on the technology analyzed, whereas only internal R&D investments are strong predictors of adoption. We are also able to present evidence that the three technologies analyzed (numerically controlled machines, computer aided design and robotics) are, to some extent, complementary.     

Resource creation and partnership in R&D consortia

In this article, we examine, through an analysis of characteristics specific to both the partner firm and the consortium, the process of creating new resources and competencies in research and development (R&D) consortia. As interfirm cooperation develops, issues concerning the role of competencies and specific resources become increasingly relevant. While theoretical work in this area has grown significantly, empirical analysis has been less systematic; we attempt here to fulfill the insufficiencies in empirical analysis. Since we are interested in how individual participating companies succeed in creating resources, our research is focused on the partner firm itself and not on the consortium as a whole. Our statistical analysis of 317 firms enables us to examine the different types of technological developments that can be achieved through EUREKA R&D consortia. We study the impact that partner characteristics and the choice of a consortium's organizational form can have on the types of resources created by a partner. Our findings, which detail the factors that affect the creation of competencies in R&D consortia, strongly support the resource-based theory of the firm.     

Organizational and human resource management and innovation: Which management practices are linked to product and/or process innovation?

We examine the determinants of firms’ innovation success, using the firm-level data from the Japanese National Innovation Survey. We focus on the relationship between organizational and human resource management practices for research and development (R&D) and product/process innovation. We find that interdivisional cooperation/teams and the creation/relocation/integration of R&D centers are positively associated with both product and process innovation. Having board members with an R&D background is positively associated with product innovation, implying that top-down R&D decision-making may be important for firms to introduce new products. Among the factors examined, personnel assessment reflecting R&D outcomes appears to have an especially strong relationship with product innovation. Moreover, the positive relationship between the creation/relocation/integration of R&D centers and innovation success suggests that drastic organizational changes can work as a clear signal of firms’ determination to pursue an innovation-oriented strategy and help to accelerate innovation success.     

美英日大学科技园创新创业人才培养特点及启示

阐述大学科技园创新创业人才培养的内涵,重点借鉴美国、英国和日本大学科技园培养创新创业人才的成功经验和特点,从树立创新创业理念和氛围、形成大学激励机制和政策以及开设创新创业课程、建立中介服务机构、构建产学研时空优势和投融资体系创业环境等方面对我国大学科技园培养创新创业人才提出建议。     

Regulatory policy, value of knowledge assets and innovation strategy: The case of the Orphan Drug Act

The U.S. Orphan Drug Act provides R&D incentives to drug-makers that go beyond statutory patent protection. The study explores the act's effect on financial returns to innovation and on the strategy of orphan drug development. Results indicate that the financial return to orphan drug development is positive. The findings suggest that when market size is small and cumulative innovation is an important phenomenon the policy that extends effective patent duration or subsidizes R&D activity improves incentives to innovate.     

所有制视角下服务资源、动态能力和竞争优势：基于中国科技服务业的实证研究

目前,中国正面临从计划经济向市场经济转型,产权制度成为制约科技服务业竞争力的重要因素。本研究在回收全国1150份有效问卷的基础上,针对不同所有制科技服务机构的资源、动态能力和竞争优势构建了关系模型,并进行了实证分析,旨在探讨不同所有制下服务资源、动态能力和竞争优势间传导机制、影响路径以及彼此间的差异。研究表明：所有制对不同类型服务机构资源、动态能力和竞争优势的影响路径和传导机制存在差异,并且在不同所有制下动态能力均起到部分中介作用,中介作用的强度从大到小依次是国有企业、民营企业、事业单位。因此,可以发现,在当前产权制度下,各类机构的竞争力均受到限制且影响机制各异,分别采取相应措施提高科技服务机构的动态能力有助于提高服务机构的竞争优势。     

国际化行为对高新技术企业创新绩效的影响机理——基于吸收能力的中介效应

国际化已成为新兴经济体国家实现创新追赶的重要战略选择。本文利用2014-2016年879家高新技术企业相关数据,针对企业多种国际化行为对创新绩效的影响进行理论分析与实证检验。并突破传统资源观和学习观,验证企业吸收能力在国际化行为与创新绩效间的中介作用及研发投入的调节作用。结果表明：1.国际化行为显著促进企业创新绩效提升,其中海外人才促进效果最强,海外出口次之,海外研发最弱。2.企业吸收能力在部分国际化行为与创新绩效间存在中介作用。3.研发投入在不同国际化行为与吸收能力间均存在调节作用,效果不同。     

Anticipatory innovation of professional services: The case of auditing and artificial intelligence

With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), professional services firms (PSFs) need to innovate their services to adapt to AI. However, traditional ad hoc innovations driven by individual professionals have limitations in incorporating new technology outside their expertise. Although service R&D—an organizational function for centralized coordination of service innovations in strategically targeted areas—is potentially effective, studies on service R&D have still been scarce. This case study aims to fill the gap by examining how PSFs can establish and utilize service R&D to innovate services, overcoming the challenges of AI adoption. An in-depth qualitative study was conducted on the process by which the Big Four audit firms incorporated AI into their external audit service in Japan in the 2010s. The analysis shows the detailed process of how newly created service R&D organizations advanced AI adoption in the case firms. This study contributes to the literature on innovations in services and PSFs by (1) demonstrating the neglected but critical role of service R&D as an innovation enabler beyond the existing expertise of service firms, (2) constructing a three-phase model of the evolution of the service R&D function, and (3) suggesting the significance of innovation process design for the legitimation of innovations. This study also expands our knowledge of AI adoption, presenting a process tailored to address the challenges inherent in AI adoption for PSFs.     

高承诺人力资源实践与科技企业绩效 ——有调节的中介模型

为探究提升科技企业绩效路径,采用文献综述和问卷调查法,以中国京津冀区域科技企业为例,对高承诺人力资源实践对科技企业绩效的影响进行研究,重点考察员工自愿离职的中介作用和企业所有制类型的调节效应。实证研究结果表明:高承诺人力资源实践对科技企业绩效具有显著的正向影响,并部分通过员工自愿离职的中介作用产生影响;私营企业的高承诺人力资源实践对员工自愿离职的负向作用比国有企业显著更强,进一步,企业所有制调节了自愿离职在高承诺人力资源实践与科技企业绩效之间所起的中介效应,即在私营企业中该中介效应更强。     

科技中介在国家创新系统中的功能及其体系构建

完善科技中介体系对于国家创新系统结构的优化和效能的提高具有十分重要的意义。本文对科技中介组织从广义和狭义两个方面进行了界定，并进行了分类。分析了我国科技中介体系存在的问题，从转变政府科技管理职能、完善法律政策环境、为科技中介组织创造发展空间和营造公平竞争的社会环境等方面提出了对策建议。     

基于整合型科技接受模型的农户采纳农业新技术行为研究——采纳意愿的中介效应

针对以农业生产为主体的农户,基于整合型科技接受理论模型实证分析其采纳农业新技术的影响因素.结果 显示:绩效期望、努力期望、社会影响等均会影响农户对农业新技术的采纳意愿,且通过采纳意愿中介效应影响农户的采纳行为,而良好的便利条件、强烈的采纳意愿会促进农户的采纳行为.最后,从农户个人、乡镇村等各级组织、合作社以及政府等方面提出促进社会影响的正向作用、注重经济收益兼顾环境效益、增强农业新技术的易用性、优化获取农业新技术的便利条件等对策建议,以有效提升农户采纳农业新技术的积极性,提高农户经济收益.