Top R&D investors and international knowledge seeking: the role of emerging technologies and technological proximity

Mafini Dosso and Antonio Vezzani ()

No 2015-09, JRC Working Papers on Corporate R&D and Innovation from Joint Research Centre

Abstract: This paper sheds new lights on the internationalization of technological activities of the top corporate R&D investors worldwide. In particular, we provide evidence on the technological factors determining their international R&D location strategies. The empirical analysis is based on the patenting activities of the top R&D investors, as reported by the EU Industrial R&D Investment Scoreboard, at the USPTO over the period 20102012. The technological proximity to the host country in which these companies seek for new knowledge is a key determinant for their R&D location decision. However, technological proximity has a non-linear effect on the companies' location strategies as they search for new technologies not too close to their knowledge base. Furthermore, top R&D investors worldwide target countries with comparative advantages in emerging technologies. Countries willing to attract high-value investments should create an environment conducive to the creation and development of brand new ideas with a high potential impact on the long term growth.

Keywords: International Knowledge seeking; Multinational Corporations (MNCs); Patents; Emerging technologies; Technological proximity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F23 L20 O30 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 21 pages
Date: 2015-11
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cse, nep-ino, nep-sbm and nep-tid
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ipt:wpaper:201509

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