Absorptive capacity and the search for innovation

Kira R. Fabrizio

Research Policy, 2009, vol. 38, issue 2, pages 255-267

Abstract: This paper examines the link between a firm's absorptive capacity-building activities and the search process for innovation. We propose that the enhanced access to university research enjoyed by firms that engage in basic research and collaborate with university scientists leads to superior search for new inventions and provides advantage in terms of both the timing and quality of search outcomes. Results based on a panel data of pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms support these contentions and suggest that the two research activities are mutually beneficial, but also uncover intriguing differences that suggest differing roles of internally and externally developed knowledge.

Keywords: Absorptive; capacity; Innovation; Pharmaceutical; and; biotechnology; University; research (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009

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Persistent link: http://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:respol:v:38:y:2009:i:2:p:255-267

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Research Policy is edited by M. Bell, B. Martin, W.E. Steinmueller, A. Arora, M. Callon, M. Kenney, S. Kuhlmann, Keun Lee and F. Murray

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