Absorptive capacity and innovation in low-tech companies in emerging economies

Abstract

Innovation capacity is on the focus of policy makers in emerging economies. Although some studies show the antecedents of innovation capacity for developed economies and high technological industries, scant research outcomes exist for different settings. This study tries to shed some light on the drivers of innovation capacity for low technological companies in emerging economies.Using the absorptive capacity as a driver of technological and non-technological innovation capacity, this study proposes a SEM model to contribute to the literature of innovation capacity including technological and non-technological innovation, and the relationship between them, in low-techonology industries in an emerging economy. A sample of 706 manufacturing companies from Peru is used.The academic contribution of this study states that absorptive capacity favors technological and non-technological innovation capacity and that non-technological innovation affects technological one. Accordingly, managerial contribution suggests improving absorptive capacity levels to internal R&D activities but also to organizational and marketing innovation activities.

Assessing the effects of human capital composition, innovation portfolio and size on manufacturing firm performance

“…The first survey was carried out in 2012 and covered the period from 2009 to 2011, while the second survey was carried out in 2015 and covered the period from 2012 to 2014. The ENIIM has been used in previous studies on management issues and published in international journals; see, for example, Heredia-Pérez et al (2019), Arenas and Gonzalez (2019) and Del Carpio-Gallegos and Miralles-Torner (2018).…”

Capacidad de Absorción e Innovación en empresas industriales manufactureras en Uruguay

“…Al ser Latinoamérica la región con la menor cantidad de estudios de investigación sobre la capacidad de innovación de las firmas (Aguilera, et al, 2017), son necesarias investigaciones adicionales en la materia, que ayuden a las empresas a afrontar los retos actuales de la economía global (Del Carpio y Miralles, 2018). Ello debería ayudar también en el proceso de toma de decisiones de inversión en innovación, en el desarrollo económico y en la creación de nuevos puestos de trabajo, en el crecimiento de las exportaciones de bienes y servicios con mayor valor agregado y, en consecuencia, en mejores productos y servicios para los consumidores (Brenes et al, 2016).…”

Organizational Innovation and Tech Innovation Persistence

“…This study contributes to the literature on innovation carried out by low-tech firms in emerging economies (Del Carpio & Miralles, 2018), keeping in mind that most studies of on high-tech firms have been carried out in developed economies. A second contribution is related to how the absorptive capacity influences technological innovation persistence, keeping in mind that low-tech firms invest very little in research and development, which in many cases is a fundamental element in the development of absorptive capacity; however, it can be appreciated that, although manufacturing firms in emerging economies do not possess the financial resources to carry out innovation activities, they make an effort to develop technological innovations through the application of inbound open innovation.…”