Foreign affiliates,export success of local firms and host country innovation capability

The paper contributes to the empirical literature by investigating host country innovation capability and export success of local firms as main determinants of technology transfer spending by foreign affiliates. In addition, the paper succeeds to partially explains why previous studies show mixed support for the significance of the technology diffusion from foreign affiliates by estimating the innovation capability threshold level. Using data for majority-owned foreign affiliates of the US parent companies in 32 developed and developing countries during the period 1966–2000, the panel data models have two main results. The first result is that the host country innovation capability and export success of local firms have significant impact on the technology transfer spending by foreign affiliates. The second result is that many developing countries do not attain the innovation capability threshold level in order to obtain positive technology spillovers from foreign affiliates.     

Knowledge flows and bases in emerging economy innovation systems: Brazilian research 2005–2009

This article considers the role of domestic knowledge capabilities for developing countries and emerging economies, and in particular in the build-up of their national systems of innovation. Using bibliometric methods, we describe the geographic sources of knowledge and the users of Brazilian research in 2005–2009, and analyze the roles of domestic and foreign knowledge bases in it. Our results suggest that increasing reliance on domestic sources of knowledge is a feature of Brazil's improved science and technology capabilities. The ascendancy of Brazil's research informs us about the unfolding re-organization of global research, too, underlining nascent South-South knowledge flows, the prevailing relevance of EU research, and the relative decline of US research for Brazilian knowledge creation.     

Liberalization, outward orientation and in-house R&D activity of multinational and local firms: A quantitative exploration for Indian manufacturing

In an increasingly globalizing and knowledge-based world economy, the declining importance of R&D activity in India is a matter of concern. This paper analyzes the determinants of R&D behaviour of Indian enterprises over the 1990s in the context of the reforms of 1991 and their impact on the R&D behaviour of MNE affiliates and local enterprises. The analysis suggests that although average levels of spending have fallen, increased competition due to liberalization seems to have pushed local firms to rationalize their R&D activity and make it more efficient. Also, R&D spending seems to rise more than proportionally with firm size after a certain threshold level has been reached. The analysis brings out differences in the nature of R&D activity of MNE affiliates and local firms. Local firms direct their R&D activity primarily towards the assimilation of imported technology, and to providing a backup to their outward expansion via exports and FDI. MNE affiliates, on the other hand, focus on exploiting the advantages of India as an R&D platform for their parents. The paper is concluded with some policy implications of the findings.     

Upgrading the technological capabilities of foreign transnational subsidiaries in developing countries: The case of electronics in Thailand

Although substantial research shows the importance of transnational corporations (TNCs) to export-led growth in some developing countries, it cannot be assumed that TNC subsidiaries will automatically upgrade their capabilities through time or in a uniform fashion. This paper explores the pattern and pace of a sample of exporting TNC subsidiaries operating in the electronics industry in Thailand, showing how the different architectures of global value chains (centralised versus decentralised) shaped the technological progress of subsidiaries in this country. The case evidence suggests a wide variety in upgrading through time, with some subsidiaries failing to develop capabilities and remaining as ‘assembly only’ plants. Other more dynamic plants developed process engineering and product design skills, investing heavily in capability building. One common determinant in capability building appears to be the overall technology strategy of the global value chain leader (or parent company). In those subsidiaries which did not upgrade beyond assembly, technology decisions and processes were tightly controlled within the parent headquarter locations in relatively centralised international value networks. By contrast, the more dynamic plants exercised more discretion over local capability building. The latter operated in relatively decentralised networks, more open to domestic policies to encourage upgrading. The study suggests that governments should tailor upgrading policies not only according to the approximate level of capabilities attained by local subsidiaries, but also according to how receptive subsidiaries are to upgrading, arguing that capability building and policy receptiveness go hand-in-hand. Other countries hoping to upgrade the quality of foreign direct investment might also wish to focus policies on the more technologically capable, ambitious and receptive categories of foreign subsidiary.     

E-E-C模式下国外大学图书馆RDM能力获取路径研究

[目的/意义]探究国外大学图书馆在RDM服务开发过程中的能力获取路径选择及策略,能够有效推进国内大学图书馆开发RDM服务的实践进程。[方法/过程]通过网络调研和实践案例分析,探索国外大学图书馆在RDM服务构建过程中的能力获取路径与策略。[结果/结论]发现国外大学图书馆RDM服务能力获取过程中路径选择的共性与差异。为有效推动国内大学图书馆RDM服务的建设进程,提出以下建议:教育RDM服务能力的获取应以本地开发为主;专业RDM服务能力的获取应坚持本地开发、鼓励合作获取的策略;策管RDM服务能力的获取则要坚持外部采购为主、本地开发为辅的策略。     

Brazil Meets the Global Challenge: IT Policy in a Postliberalization Environment

Since the early 1990s, Brazilian IT policy has changed substantially from greenhouse protectionism in selected segments of the market to a more liberal regime. This article analyses the impact of liberalization on IT equipment production, diffusion, employment, and foreign trade. There were both benefits and setbacks, depending on the aspect analyzed. Users benefited from greater access to imported equipment, which could eventually contribute to productivity growth in the overall economy.On the negative side, there was a loss of local linkages with internal sources of components, technology, and employment. The article concludes that the future of the Brazilian IT industry does not seem to be in commodity hardware production. Rather, it lies in design- and engineering-intensive applications. Such "production close to use" can spur domestic use as well as create business opportunities for domestically owned companies in markets not dominated by foreign multinationals.     

内外部合法性平衡:全球研发的海外进入模式选择

本研究聚焦于"后发企业研发国际化的战略动机是如何影响其海外研发机构进入模式的"这一核心问题,文章首先从技术特征和市场焦点两个维度解构了研发国际化的战略动机,识别了三种中国企业海外研发中心的功能定位:海外市场适应点、技术先驱点以及技术卓越中心。第二,本文从合法性双元视角出发,提出了相对合法性需求的概念,研究了不同研发国际化动机下,企业面临的内外合法性需求之争,以及形成主导的合法性需求;后发企业会根据内外合法性需求的相对水平对海外研发机构的进入模式和治理结构进行安排,以平衡和响应这两股抵触的力量。本研究提出了战略动机→内外合法性需求优先权→进入模式选择的整合分析框架,为企业研发国际化过程中海外子公司进入模式选择提供了理论解释。     

基于因子分析的外资研发机构分类研究

本文采用因子分析方法对31家外资研发机构、18个相关指标构成的原始数据库进行分析,结果显示投资主体研发实力、机构自身研发条件和当地贡献度是影响外资研发机构综合表现的三个主因子,根据各因子得分及综合得分可将样本机构划分为综合实力型、综合潜力型、当地贡献型、主体优势型、自身优势型五种主要类型,基本上反映出不同机构的总体情况及其优劣所在,能够在一定程度上为在华外资研发机构分类管理制度的建立提供理论依据和研究范例。     

Technology and the generation of international knowledge spillovers: An application to Spanish manufacturing firms

In the continuing debate about the positive versus negative effects of inward investments in a host economy, a new perspective has arisen from new firms’ strategy nowadays to internationalise their activity. One aspect is that knowledge that is not completely appropriable by foreign affiliates abroad may spill over into domestic firms. In the absence of conclusive evidence, two questions can be put forward: the first concerns the role played by technology in the generation of those external effects; the second, the micro-assessment of the dynamics of technological spillovers. In this paper, results show that benefits for domestic firms in Spain differ across industries by their technological content. The hypothesis of spillover dynamics is tested and supported by the availability of panel data for manufacturing firms in the 1990s.     

Domestic patents and developing countries: arguments for their study and data from Brazil (1980–1995)

This paper presents data from Brazilian Patent Office (Instituto Nacional de Propriedade Industrial, INPI) and compares them with data from the United States Patent Office (USPTO). Developing countries have technological activities that are important locally but not significant at international level (imitation, local learning, adaptation of foreign innovations). These activities might be patentable only at national level. Therefore, the study of domestic patents of developing countries provides a broader picture than USPTO patents. This paper compares 8309 INPI patents with 475 USPTO patents (between 1980 and 1995). Domestic patent data show peculiarities in the Brazilian case, possibly shared with other countries in similar technological level: (a) high share of individual patents; (b) foreign-owned firms with important activities; (c) low firm involvement in R&D activities. Some characteristics are shared with developed countries: (a) domestic firms as the major patentees; (b) according to firm size, there is a U-shaped distribution of patents; (c) evidences of multi-technology large firms; (d) a relatively small share of firms have more than one patent in the whole period. The contrast between USPTO and national patenting statistics shows different rankings according to ownership structure, leading firms, industrial sectors, and international patent classification. These differences highlight sources of international competitiveness and point to weaknesses in Brazilian innovative activities. This paper concludes evaluating the contributions (and weaknesses) of this database for the evaluation of the Brazilian National System of Innovation.     

客观认识我国企业研发投入及外资企业的影响

企业研发经费的增长推动了我国研发经费总量的提高.而外资企业①研发经费增长速度远高于内资企业,改变了我国的研发投入格局.外资企业的研发活动具有明显的行业和区域集聚性,在一些战略高技术领域的投入力度已接近内资企业,在一些发达地区的研发经费投入已接近甚至远高于内资企业.外资企业的研发成果主要在跨国公司内部循环,外溢作用并不明显.应关注全球化进程中外资企业科技活动的情况及其对国家创新战略的影响,制定有针对性的科技政策,促进我国自主创新战略的顺利实施.     

Foreign tacit knowledge and a capabilities perspective on MNEs’ product innovativeness: Examining source-recipient knowledge absorption platforms

This study applies a capabilities perspective to examine how source-recipient knowledge absorption platforms affect the relationship between foreign tacit knowledge resource and multinational enterprises’ (MNEs) product innovativeness. Theoretically, this study moves beyond internal absorptive capacity into a capabilities perspective of MNEs’ product innovativeness. By using dynamic capabilities theory and absorptive capacity to frame source-recipient knowledge absorption platforms as dynamic capabilities, we build a model that enables the continued interaction between the tacit knowledge resource gained from foreign subsidiaries (source) and the focal (recipient) MNEs’ product innovativeness. For managerial implications, we focus on three organizational practices in terms of entrepreneurial competence, relationship harmony, and information communication technology (ICT) competence as potential enhancements to convert foreign tacit knowledge resource into MNEs’ product innovativeness.     

Business intelligence and analytics as a driver of dynamic and operational capabilities in times of intense macroeconomic turbulence

Despite growing investments in Business Intelligence and Analytics (BI&A), the business value generation process associated with the adoption of these technologies is still unclear. Consequently, managers face difficulties in justifying such initiatives and subsequently evaluating their results. For companies that operate in extremely turbulent environments, the outcomes of BI&A investments may be even harder to estimate. In this study, we propose and statistically evaluate a causal model that connects the availability of BI&A resources and capabilities in a company to its operational marketing capabilities. Marketing processes are critical for the generation of innovations in products and services, and operational revenues, and thereby, for a firm's performance and competitiveness. In order to assess our model, we applied structural equation modeling techniques to data collected in multiple units of a large Brazilian telecommunications company during the worst economic and institutional crisis faced by the country. Our results suggest that the dynamic capabilities of a company fully mediates the positive effect of BI&A resources and capabilities on its marketing capabilities. In contrast to what is usually found in the literature, turbulence did not moderate the effect of dynamic capabilities on marketing capabilities.     

New forms of organisation and R&D internationalisation among the world's 100 largest food and beverages multinationals

This paper explores the strategic internationalisation of Research and Development (R&D) activities of the world's 100 largest food and beverages (F&B) multinationals (MNEs) in 1996 and 2000 with a sample of nearly 8000 affiliates for each period. We develop a global innovation strategy (GIS) structure where we analyse the R&D internationalisation process of F&B MNEs. We argue that in a fully developed GIS model the sourcing of creative inputs does not come exclusively from a ‘central’ R&D laboratory, but other overseas R&D laboratories or technological affiliates can also undertake genuine knowledge creation activity from capitalising on the scientific heterogeneity fostered in individual host countries as well as distinctive demand conditions. Our results indicate the increasing importance of overseas technological affiliates in the application of a GIS in the leading F&B MNEs, which determine the degree of their technological internationalisation. Two variants of technological affiliates reflect two broad knowledge-related activities, i.e. adaptation and genuine forms of knowledge creation.     

珠江三角洲企业引进技术再创新的思考

在珠三角企业自有技术研发能力不足的情况下,从国外引进适宜技术还是必要的。日本引进技术再创新的经验值得珠三角企业借鉴,加强国外适宜技术的引进有助于提升珠三角企业现有技术水平,在一定条件下还可以通过再创新带动自主创新能力的提高。     

珠江三角洲企业引进技术再创新的思考

在珠三角企业自有技术研发能力不足的情况下,从国外引进适宜技术还是必要的。日本引进技术再创新的经验值得珠三角企业借鉴,加强国外适宜技术的引进有助于提升珠三角企业现有技术水平,在一定条件下还可以通过再创新带动自主创新能力的提高。     

外商直接投资对地区绿色技术创新的溢出效应研究

日益严峻的环境问题已然成为制约中国经济发展的一大因素，绿色技术创新有助于实现经济可持续发展和生态环境改善的“双赢”局面，提高绿色技术创新能力是转变经济发展方式和优化产业结构的战略支撑。本文基于中国工业企业数据库，中国城市统计年鉴以及国家知识产权局专利数据库，采用绿色专利数作为地区绿色技术创新的代理变量，利用海岸线距离构造工具变量，考察外商直接投资（FDI）对地区绿色技术创新的溢出效应。实证分析表明，FDI通过知识外溢、示范效应以及竞争效应对地区绿色技术创新产生明显的外溢效应，显著地促进了绿色专利数量的增加。进一步从地区异质性来看，金融生态环境的改善，环境规制水平的提高，外向型经济的发展，均有助于地区绿色技术创新水平的提升。本文的研究为我国政府科学制定外资政策，发挥外资绿色技术创新最大化溢出效应提供可借鉴的思路。     

Academic scientists’ affiliation with university research centers: Selection dynamics

University research centers have been institutionalized as a part of the science policy repertoire committed to strategic use of science and technology. Based on a representative sample of academic scientists and engineers in American research universities, this study investigates the selection dynamics, attempting to unfold the determinants of department-affiliated faculty members to be center affiliates. The findings suggest that university research centers select their affiliates on the basis of individual scientific and technical human capital. Scientists from prestigious departments are more likely to be center affiliates, so are prolific scientists, former postdoctoral scholars and the elder cohorts. In the meantime, university research centers are able to overcome the incentive incongruity with academic departments, as is evidenced by a higher likelihood among junior scientists to secure center connections. Dedicated to diversity and equity, university research centers provide a level playing field for women, minority and foreign-born scientists. The study concludes with a discussion of the scientific and technical human capital theory and policy implications in the science enterprise.     

R&D synergy between local and foreign-owned enterprises in post-communist economies

This study examines how internal research and development (R&D), external knowledge acquisition, and R&D contracted with other companies interact in local and foreign-owned enterprises in post-communist economies. A large sample of firm-level data from the Business Environment and Enterprise Performance Survey (BEEPS) across 26 post-communist countries (including European Union (EU) members and non-EU states of Eastern Europe, Caucasian countries, and Central Asian countries) and country-level data from the Global Innovation Index and the International Property Rights Index were used. The findings show that enterprises with majority foreign ownership are relatively more likely to acquire external R&D. We demonstrate that the R&D behavior of enterprises with majority foreign ownership and local firms are interrelated, that is, we find a synergy effect. According to the results, decisions on internal R&D and the purchase of external knowledge for enterprises with majority foreign ownership are similar to those of local firms. However, enterprises with foreign ownership contract R&D with other companies more often if local firms conduct internal R&D. These results indicate the presence of knowledge spillover and cross-learning effects in both types of enterprises in post-communist countries. Finally, we find that the national innovation environment is not significant for the R&D intensity of enterprises with majority foreign ownership, which suggests their high dependence on the parent structures of multinational enterprises.     

竞争劣势、买方势力与本土制造商的研发策略

本土制造商在面对进入中国市场并拥有成熟技术和商业模式的跨国公司,处于相对竞争劣势地位;而流通领域中拥有品牌、渠道优势的大型零售组织,也形成对本土制造商的买方势力;横向竞争劣势与纵向买方势力,恶化了中国本土制造商所处的市场环境。本文从企业所处市场环境出发,考察了本土制造商相对于国外制造商的横向竞争劣势,以及下游企业相对于本土制造商的纵向买方势力对自主研发激励的影响。研究结果表明：横向竞争劣势和纵向买方势力的增强降低了本土制造商最优研发水平,是导致本土企业创新较弱的重要原因。基于此,论文提出了本土制造商与大型零售商进行纵向合作研发,促进本土制造商研发能力提升的应对策略。通过构建三种成本分担形式下的合作研发决策模型,给出了本土制造商合作研发的最优模式选择：当买方势力较小时,最优的合作研发策略是根据利润增量决定研发成本分担;当买方势力较大时,最优的合作研发策略是根据本土制造商自身利润最大化决定研发成本分担。