PurposeThis study is aimed at making an inspection of the effects of collaborative innovation network characteristics on firm innovation performance, and the intermediary roles of knowledge transfer efficiency is taken into account.Design/methodology/approachThis study used a convenient sampling method to obtain population and samples. Using data obtained by publishing online and paper questionnaires, and using on-site interviews in Anhui Province in the Yangtze River Delta region of China, descriptive analysis, regression analysis and correlation analysis are utilized to study the direct influence of collaborative innovation network characteristics on knowledge transfer efficiency as well as firm innovation performance, and the intermediary roles of knowledge transfer efficiency on firm innovation performance, respectively. In this study, 3,000 questionnaires were distributed to the employees of enterprises engaged in research and development (R&D) activities, of which 2,560 were valid. With the help of SPSS24.0 software, the reliability and validity of the questionnaire was analyzed.FindingsThe results are indicative of that network centrality and relationship strength positively affect knowledge transfer efficiency and firm innovation performance. Nevertheless, network scale has no significant correlation with knowledge transfer efficiency and enterprise innovation performance. In addition, knowledge transfer efficiency is an intermediary between collaborative innovation network characteristics and enterprise innovation performance, and positively affects enterprise innovation performance, which demonstrated that managers should take advantage of collaborative innovation network characteristics to elevate knowledge transfer efficiency because well-realized transferals of knowledge can help accelerate the coordination of resources in knowledge, and finally bring about the advancement of firm's innovation abilities and performance.Research limitations/implicationsThere are few previous studies that fully examined the relationships among collaborative innovation network characteristics, knowledge transfer efficiency and firm innovation performance. This paper developed previous researches on the relationships between collaborative innovation network characteristics, knowledge transfer efficiency and firm innovation performance. The mediation of knowledge transfer efficiency on the relationship between collaborative innovation network characteristics and firm innovation performance is analyzed. Further, studies on collaborative innovation network characteristics using data obtained from employees engaged in R&D activities are very limited in the literature. On account of that, the findings in this study may make sense to the innovation ability of innovative enterprise and expand the literature in the field of enterprise strategic management and knowledge management.Practical implicationsThis analysis shows that collaborative innovation network characteristics have both positive and negative effects on firm innovation performance. Therefore, business managers should pay attention to their position in the collaborative innovation network and maintain the relationship strength with other innovation subjects. Special consideration should be given to the knowledge transfer of innovative enterprises, so as to improve firm innovation performance practically.Originality/valueThe study may provide additional understandings for researchers, government managers, universities and enterprises with regard to strategic management from the visual angle of innovation ecosystems. It is instrumental in the exploration of the mechanisms enabling firm innovation performance.

Online branding plays an increasingly vital role for agricultural products in agriculture and e-commerce industries alike. To improve the cooperation between farmers and e-retailers, and to increase awareness of agricultural products through online branding, many governments implement series of subsidy policies. We investigate the impact of government subsidies by proposing a three-player game model (consisting of a government, a farmer, and an e-retailer) in supply chains. More specifically, we develop four Stackelberg game scenarios, including a benchmark scenario in which government provides no subsidies, two scenarios in which government subsidizes either farmer or e-retailer without subsidizing the other, and one in which both are subsidized. We find awareness of online branding for agricultural products is positively related to farmers? market sensitivity while e-retailers? cost factor shows a negative relation; optimal awareness emerges when both farmers and retailers are subsidized. In turn, farmers and retailers achieve their best profits when both are subsidized. Furthermore, farmers? profits are higher than e-retailers? in every subsidy scenario. We obtain the most effective parameters for government subsidies using ex ante and ex post strategies, extending our model by incorporating spillover effects. Most of our conclusions are consistent with intuition and propositions we began with, but it is interesting to note that farmers? best profits appear when farmers receive subsidies and e-retailers do not.

This research introduces the three variables of spillover effect, research and development efficiency, and cost of mergers and acquisitions as the chief factors affecting independent research and development and technology mergers and acquisitions based on a two-stage game theory model of research and development strategies. Using these three variables, this research explains the selection of independent research and development or technology mergers and acquisitions according to profit maximization. Based on the theory model, this research finds that costs of mergers and acquisitions and spillover effects play a significant role in research and development decisions. In addition, excessive costs of mergers and acquisitions can increase research and development expenditures, therefore reducing profit and affecting the organizational operation and development. Therefore, when the costs of mergers and acquisitions exceed a certain level, companies will abandon technology mergers and acquisitions and choose independent research and development; and a higher knowledge spillover effect reduces the costs of independent research and development, therefore increasing profit. In conclusion, given certain costs of mergers and acquisitions, a higher spillover effect helps business organizations to choose independent research and development strategies.