Cooperation for innovation in developing countries and its effects: evidence from Ecuador

Abstract

This paper evaluates the impact of the most common innovation linkages by type of innovation activity on firms' innovation inputs and outputs. In order to estimate the casual effects, we employ Inverse Probability Weighting, while focusing on exclusive cooperative agreements to prevent our results from being affected by the presence of additional relationships in other activities or with other types of partners. Results indicate that cooperation in non-R&D innovation activities positively affects the introduction of new-to-the-firm product, marketing and organizational innovations, while cooperation in both R&D and non-R&D activities also affects R&D intensity and new-to-the-market product innovation. Furthermore, firms that cooperate exclusively in obtaining information, which is mainly carried out with suppliers and customers, are more likely to introduce new-to-the-firm product and organizational innovations.Keywords: non-R&D cooperation; technological capabilities; impact assessment.Abstract: This paper evaluates the impact of the most common innovation linkages by type of innovation activity on firms' innovation inputs and outputs. In order to estimate the casual effects, we employ Inverse Probability Weighting, while focusing on exclusive cooperative agreements to prevent our results from being affected by the presence of additional relationships in other activities or with other types of partners. Results indicate that cooperation in non-R&D innovation activities positively affects the introduction of new-to-the-firm product, marketing and organizational innovations, while cooperation in both R&D and non-R&D activities also affects R&D intensity and new-to-the-market product innovation. Furthermore, firms that cooperate exclusively in obtaining information, which is mainly carried out with suppliers and customers, are more likely to introduce new-to-the-firm product and organizational innovations.

Towards the innovative university: What is the role of organisational culture and knowledge sharing?

“…Previous research has confirmed that a conducive organisational culture enhances innovation (see Büschgens et al, 2013;Glisson, 2015), specifically inter-functional cooperation (Fernández Sastre & Vera, 2017), flexibility and risk-taking (Naranjo-Valencia et al, 2016) and participative decision-making (Isaksen & Isaksen, 2010). A conducive organisational culture also impacts positively knowledge sharing (Rega, Abu Mansor, Ramayah, & Norhalimah, 2014).…”

Regional characteristics and the decision to innovate in a developing country: A multilevel analysis of Ecuadorian firms

“…Column (6) in Table 3 confirms a positive association between Other innovation and this regional characteristic, which is not surprising. Co‐operative relationships in Ecuador seek primarily to obtain technological information and set up training activities and technical support for employees rather than science‐based R&D (Fernández‐Sastre & Vaca‐Vera, 2017). These activities are complementary to investments in other innovation activities, since the acquisition of technologies for innovation often requires training, technical support, and information on complementary technologies.…”

“…In other words, a firm's decision to invest in innovation depends on how the regional knowledge base is being exploited and expanded through the interaction between the different actors (Schmutzler & Lorenz, 2018). What is particular to developing countries is that most co-operation relationships do not involve formal R&D projects but seek primarily to obtain technological information and set up training activities and technical support for employees (Fernández-Sastre & Vaca-Vera, 2017). Hence, these activities are more related to investments in other innovation activities.…”

“Risk” or “Opportunity”? The High Sensitivity of Corporate Green Innovation to Environmental Policy Uncertainty: Evidence from China

“…In this context, policy support is often the common choice of governments from all countries, which tends to replace the market mechanism in order to dominate corporate green innovation activities, resulting in a high correlation between corporate green innovation and macro policies. This trend is more pronounced in developing countries [2].…”