The role of information sources as a driver of innovation

Abstract

An extensive empirical literature shows the important role that information sources have on firm innovation. However, there is scarce evidence on the different typologies of between technological and non‐technological innovations and their expectations. We investigate how the wide number of information sources affect the propensity to innovate and its future expectations. At the methodological level, we apply a multivariate Probit to the Innovation Survey of Chilean companies (2013–2016). Our results show that internal information sources, suppliers, clients and the Internet are significantly associated with the development of technological and non‐technological innovations. Social innovations are affected only by internal and by market (primarily from consultancy firms) sources of information. Finally, internal information sources and the Internet affect firms' expectations to innovate. Our results indicate the importance of different information flows and how they may drive the generation of innovations.