nep-knm New Economics Papers
on Knowledge Management and Knowledge Economy
Issue of 2014‒01‒24
ten papers chosen by
Laura Stefanescu
European Research Centre of Managerial Studies in Business Administration

  1. Young innovative firms and R&D strategies: is the Spanish case different? By Segarra Blasco, Agustí, 1958-; Gombau, Verònica
  2. Innovative Activity of Small Tourist Enterprises – Cooperation with Local Institutional Partners By Najda-Janoszka, Marta
  3. The evolution of networks of innovators within and across borders: Evidence from patent data By Andrea Morescalchi; Fabio Pammolli; Orion Penner; Alexander M. Petersen; Massimo Riccaboni
  4. Technological Change, Financial Innovation, and Diffusion in Banking By W. Scott Frame; Lawrence J. White
  5. Exploring the Evolution of Innovation Networks in Science-driven and Scale-intensive Industries: New Evidence from a Stochastic Actor-based Approach By T. Buchmann; D. Hain; Muhamed Kudic; M. Müller
  6. Stepping out of the zone of territorial protection enables open innovation collaboration. By Susanne Ollila; Anna Yström; Marine Agogué
  7. Collective Bargaining and Innovation in Germany: Cooperative Industrial Relations? By Addison, John T.; Teixeira, Paulino; Evers, Katalin; Bellmann, Lutz
  8. Wealth distribution and collective knowledge. A Boltzmann approach By Lorenzo Pareschi; Giuseppe Toscani
  9. Innovation Markets, Future Markets, or Potential Competition: How Should Competition Authorities Account for Innovation Competition in Merger Reviews? By Benjamin Kern
  10. Skill Variety, Innovation and New Business Formation By Hessels, Jolanda; Brixy, Udo; Naudé, Wim; Gries, Thomas

  1. By: Segarra Blasco, Agustí, 1958-; Gombau, Verònica
    Abstract: This paper analyzes the profile of Spanish young innovative companies (YICs) and the determinants of innovation and imitation strategies. The results for an extensive sample of 2,221 Spanish firms studied during the period 2004–2010 show that YICs are found in all sectors, although they are more concentrated in high-tech sectors and, in particular, in knowledge-intensive services (KIS). Three of every four YICs are involved in KIS. Our results highlight that financial and knowledge barriers have much impact on the capacity of young, small firms to innovate and to become YICs, whereas market barriers are not obstacles to becoming a YIC. Public funding, in particular from the European Union, makes it easier for a new firm to become a YIC. In addition, YICs are more likely to innovate than mature firms, although they are more susceptible to sectoral and territorial factors. YICs make more dynamic use of innovation and imitation strategies when they operate in high-tech industries and are based in science parks located close to universities. Keywords: innovation strategies, public innovation policies, barriers to innovation, multinomial probit model. JEL Codes: D01, D22 , L60, L80, O31
    Keywords: Microeconomia, Conducta organitzacional, Manufactures, Sector terciari, Innovacions tecnològiques -- Política governamental, 33 - Economia,
    Date: 2013
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:urv:wpaper:2072/222200&r=knm
  2. By: Najda-Janoszka, Marta
    Abstract: According to the open innovation model an effective strategy for increasing innovation and competitiveness of the region should be based on active and multilevel cooperation among operators of the local tourism business environment. It is commonly assumed that an exceptionally important role in creating a favorable environment for the cooperative practices in the region is performed by local authorities. Yet, a modest number of research findings presented in the literature indicate a rather high level of inertia of local authorities in creating appropriate conditions for tourism business development, thus putting in question the effectiveness of performed intermediary function in the process of knowledge transfer among tourist enterprises. Given the paucity of empirical evidence on effectiveness of innovation policy interventions at the regional level, this article presents the empirical findings regarding cooperation in innovation between tourist enterprises and local institutional agents.
    Keywords: tourism, innovation, cooperation, institutional environment, local government
    JEL: H70 L83 O31
    Date: 2013–09–15
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:52991&r=knm
  3. By: Andrea Morescalchi (IMT Lucca Institute for Advanced Studies); Fabio Pammolli (IMT Lucca Institute for Advanced Studies); Orion Penner (IMT Lucca Institute for Advanced Studies); Alexander M. Petersen (IMT Lucca Institute for Advanced Studies); Massimo Riccaboni (IMT Lucca Institute for Advanced Studies)
    Abstract: Recent studies on the geography of knowledge networks have documented a negative impact of physical distance and institutional borders upon research and development (R&D) collaborations. Though it is widely recognized that geographic constraints and national borders impede the diffusion of knowledge, less attention has been devoted to the temporal evolution of these constraints. In this study we use data on patents filed with the European Patent Office (EPO) for OECD countries to analyze the impact of physical distance and country borders on inter-regional links in four different networks over the period 1988-2009: (1) co-inventorship, (2) patent citations, (3) inventor mobility and (4) the location of R&D laboratories. We find the constraint imposed by country borders and distance decreased until mid-1990s then started to grow, particularly for distance. We further investigate the role of large innovation "hubs" as attractors of new collaboration opportunities and the impact of region size and locality on the evolution of cross-border patenting activities. The intensity of European cross-country inventor collaborations increased at a higher pace than their non-European counterparts until 2004, with no significant relative progress thereafter. Moreover, when analyzing networks of geographical mobility, multinational R&D activities and patent citations we cannot detect any substantial progress in European research integration above and beyond the common global trend.
    Keywords: Geography of knowledge, Networks of Innovators, European integration, Spatial proximity, Cross-border collaboration, Gravity model
    JEL: O31 O38 R12 R23 D89
    Date: 2014–01
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ial:wpaper:1/2014&r=knm
  4. By: W. Scott Frame; Lawrence J. White
    Date: 2014
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ste:nystbu:14-02&r=knm
  5. By: T. Buchmann; D. Hain; Muhamed Kudic; M. Müller
    Abstract: Our primary goal is to analyse the drivers of evolutionary network change processes by using a stochastic actor-based simulation approach. We contribute to the literature by combining two unique datasets, concerning the German laser and automotive industry, between 2002 and 2006 to explore whether geographical, network-related, and techno-logical determinants affect the evolution of networks, and if so, as to what extent these determinants systematically differ for science-driven industries compared to scale-intensive industries. Our results provide empirical evidence for the explanatory power of network-related determinants in both industries. The ‘experience effect’ as well as the ‘transitivity effects’ are significant for both industries but more pronounced for laser manufacturing firms. When it comes to ‘geographical effects’ and ‘technological ef-fects’ the picture changes considerably. While geographical proximity plays an important role in the automotive industry, firms in the laser industry seem to be less dependent on geographical closeness to cooperation partners; instead they rather search out for cooperation opportunities in distance. This might reflect the strong dependence of firms in science-driven industries to access diverse external knowledge, which cannot necessarily be found in the close geographical surrounding. Technological proximity negatively influences cooperation decisions for laser source manufacturers, yet has no impact for automotive firms. In other words, technological heterogeneity seems to ex-plain, at least in science-driven industries, the attractiveness of potential cooperation partners.
    Keywords: network evolution, innovation network, automotive industry, laser industry, SIENA
    JEL: O32 C41 D85
    Date: 2014–01
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iwh:dispap:1-14&r=knm
  6. By: Susanne Ollila (Chalmers - Chalmers University of Technology - Chalmers University of Technology); Anna Yström (Management of Organizational Renewal and Entrepreneurship - Chalmers University of Technology); Marine Agogué (CGS - Centre de Gestion Scientifique - MINES ParisTech - École nationale supérieure des mines de Paris)
    Abstract: This paper explores the challenges organizations face in practice as they engage in open innovation projects with multiple partners. Open innovation as a way to increase competitiveness has become popular among many organizations, but its success is not guaranteed. It appears to sometimes be challenging to reap the benefits of bringing multiple, diverse partners together, as it is difficult to turn the differences into something constructive. Using empirical findings from a project in the field of vehicle- and traffic safety, this paper contributes with a proposal for a refined methodology, iKCP, to enable and facilitate open innovation collaboration. Inspiration has been sought in methods used for managing innovative design processes. The strength of the iKCP methodology is that it supports, encourages and even forces the participants to leave the zone of territorial protection and be at ease in the zone of expansive exploration.
    Date: 2013–06
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-00931185&r=knm
  7. By: Addison, John T. (University of South Carolina); Teixeira, Paulino (University of Coimbra); Evers, Katalin (Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Nuremberg); Bellmann, Lutz (Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Nuremberg)
    Abstract: The effect of collective bargaining on innovation has long been in dispute. At the level of theory, the hold-up problem has been used to justify positive as well as negative effects of unionism. At the empirical level, although some would consider the North American evidence as cut and dried, this is not the case for other countries. In Europe there is some suggestion that certain industrial relations systems, either alone or in combination with the regulatory framework in which they are embedded, may tip the balance in favor of a beneficial union effect. In the present paper, we assemble nationally representative data for Germany – for many observers the exemplar of a cooperative industrial relations regime – to investigate the impact of collective bargaining on (several measures of) process innovation and product innovation. Our cross section and longitudinal analysis fails to indicate that unionism retards innovation. Indeed, in conjunction with workplace representation, collective bargaining at sectoral level might even be pro innovative.
    Keywords: Germany, collective bargaining, innovation
    JEL: J51 J53 O31
    Date: 2013–12
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp7871&r=knm
  8. By: Lorenzo Pareschi; Giuseppe Toscani
    Abstract: We introduce and discuss a nonlinear kinetic equation of Boltzmann type which describes the influence of knowledge in the evolution of wealth in a system of agents which interact through the binary trades introduced in Cordier, Pareschi, Toscani, J. Stat. Phys. 2005. The trades, which include both saving propensity and the risks of the market, are here modified in the risk and saving parameters, which now are assumed to depend on the personal degree of knowledge. The numerical simulations show that the presence of knowledge has the potential to produce a class of wealthy agents and to account for a larger proportion of wealth inequality.
    Date: 2014–01
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:1401.4550&r=knm
  9. By: Benjamin Kern (University of Marburg)
    Abstract: The relevant competitors in regard to innovation might, but not necessarily do, correspond to the identified competitors on actual product markets. Hence, the conventional analysis of product markets, in order to assess the potential anticompetitive effects of mergers, is insufficient to capture innovation competition in its full extent. As a consequence, the aim of this article is to introduce and compare the existing alternative approaches which can, in principle, be used for the assessment of anticompetitive innovation effects in merger review. By focusing on the applied U.S. Antitrust, it turns out that none of the existing approaches seems to be appropriate to fully account for innovation competition. However, the ‘Innovation Market Analysis’, the first framework especially designed for the assessment of innovation aspects, might still serve as a good starting point for the development of a revised assessment framework.
    JEL: B52 K21 L12 L41 O31
    Date: 2014
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:mar:magkse:201408&r=knm
  10. By: Hessels, Jolanda (Erasmus University Rotterdam); Brixy, Udo (Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Nuremberg); Naudé, Wim (Maastricht School of Management); Gries, Thomas (University of Paderborn)
    Abstract: We extend Lazear's theory of skills variety and entrepreneurship in three directions. First, we provide a theoretical framework linking new business creation with an entrepreneur's skill variety. Second, in this model we allow for both generalists and specialists to possess skill variety. Third, we test our model empirically using data from Germany and the Netherlands. Individuals with more varied work experience seems indeed more likely to successfully start up a new business and that being a generalist does not seem to be important in this regard. Finally, we find that innovation positively moderates the relationship between having varied experiences, and being successful in starting up a new business. Our conclusion is that entrepreneurs with more varied work experience are more likely to introduce innovations that have not only technical, but also commercial value. Our findings support the notion that entrepreneurship can be learned.
    Keywords: entrepreneurship, start-ups, human capital, innovation, skills
    JEL: L26 M13 J24 O31
    Date: 2014–01
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp7889&r=knm

This nep-knm issue is ©2014 by Laura Stefanescu. It is provided as is without any express or implied warranty. It may be freely redistributed in whole or in part for any purpose. If distributed in part, please include this notice.
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