Amazon was the world's top R&D firm in 2017. Its R&D investment was double that of 2015, quintuple that of 2012, and tenfold that of 2011. It deploys a unique R&D model as conducting "routine or periodic alterations" and "significant improvement" simultaneously. Since traditionally the former is classified as non-R&D, Amazon's rapid and notable increase has raised the question of a new R&D definition in the digital economy. By means of an empirical analysis of the Amazon's R&D model, this paper attempted to provide a convincing answer to this question. Amazon has invested considerable resources in extremely innovative business areas, which has developed its assimilation capacity. In parallel with such forefront innovation, Amazon is endeavoring to absorb soft innovation resources from external markets and assimilate them into its business model. This then transforms "routine or periodic alterations" into "significant improvement", leading to the company becoming the world's top R&D firm. Such an endeavor has triggered a new concept of R&D in neo open innovation and revealed the significance of a transformation of the R&D concept in the digital economy.
Advancement of the digital economy has transformed the concept of the growth crossover in nations and firms, both concerning input and output. Advanced economies have been confronting a dilemma between input increases and output decreases. Contrary to traditional expectations, excessive increase in input has resulted in a productivity decline in output. A solution to this dilemma can only be expected by harnessing the vigor of soft innovation resources that lead to neo open innovation in the digital economy. This paper attempts to demonstrate this hypothetical view. Based on an empirical analysis of the development trajectories of 140 countries and 500 global ICT firms, dynamism, resulting in bipolarization between a virtuous cycle and a vicious cycle between input increases and productivity enhancement, was discovered. Furthermore, an empirical analysis focusing on the development trajectories of two world ICT leaders, Finland and Singapore, identified a mechanism of neo open innovation that assimilates soft innovation resources into a national production system. This mechanism can substitute for research and development (R&D) and removes structural impediments to growth while providing relief from the increasing burden of R&D investment. The above findings provide insightful suggestions for drafting a roadmap towards neo open innovation in the digital economy.
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